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Chapter Text

ALLEGIANCES

ThunderClan

Leader: Oakstar - sturdy brown tom with amber eyes

Deputy: Beetail - dark brown tabby tom

Apprentice: Birchpaw

Medicine Cat: Ravenwing - small black tom with blue eyes

Warriors: (Toms and she-cats without kits)

Deerdapple - silver-and-black tabby she-cat

Apprentice: Goldenpaw

Hazelheart - long-haired tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes

Rowanfur - large ginger tom with green eyes

Bloomheart - gray tabby tom

Apprentice: Maplepaw

Dovesong - brown-and-white tabby she-cat

Sweetbriar - light brown tabby she-cat with white paws and green eyes

Apprentice: Dawnpaw

Thrushtalon - light brown tabby tom

Seedpelt - light brown-and-white tabby tom

Whitefoot - white she-cat with gray tabby markings on her tail and ears

Cherrypetal - cream-and-white she-cat

Graytuft - gray tom with darker gray tufts on his ears

Embershine - black she-cat with bright orange eyes

Apprentices: (Cats older than six moons in training to become warriors)

Birchpaw - handsome dark brown tabby tom; eight moons old

Goldenpaw - golden she-cat with dark amber eyes; eight moons old

Maplepaw - long-haired tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes; six moons old

Dawnpaw - pale orange she-cat with white paws and underbelly; six moons old

Elders: (Warriors and queens now retired)

Rabbitfur - gray tabby tom

RiverClan

Leader: Darkstar - black she-cat with green eyes

Deputy: Spiketail - dark gray tom

Medicine Cat: Echostorm - black-and-white she-cat

Apprentice: Cloudpaw

Warriors: (Toms and she-cats without kits)

Rainfall - skinny black tom

Milkfur - white she-cat

Redtail - dark ginger she-cat with a fluffy tail

Splashfoot - pale gray tom

Eeltail - gray-and-black tabby she-cat

Apprentice: Applepaw

Poppyspots - dark tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

Carpclaw - long-haired brown tabby tom

Apprentice: Reedpaw

Creekstep - ginger tabby tom with green eyes

Apprentices: (Cats older than six moons in training to become warriors)

Cloudpaw - white she-cat with yellow eyes; eight moons old

Applepaw - pale brown tom with green eyes; eight moons old

Reedpaw - dark orange she-cat; six moons old

Queens: (She-cats expecting or nursing kits)

Lilynose - pale gray tabby she-cat

Frostcloud - long-haired silver tabby she-cat.

Elders: (Warriors and queens now retired)

Snowsky - fluffy white tom with blue eyes

Owlflight - skinny ginger tom

ShadowClan

Leader: Smokestar - dark gray tabby tom with yellow eyes

Deputy: Dustcloud - pale brown tabby she-cat with green eyes

Medicine Cat: Sloefur - black tom with amber eyes

Apprentice: Mudpaw

Warriors: (Toms and she-cats without kits)

Frogleap - black-and-white tom

Birchstrike - silver tabby she-cat

Apprentice: Snakepaw

Lichentail - ginger-and-white tabby tom with yellow eyes

Nightshade - black she-cat

Icestorm - pale gray she-cat with green eyes

Apprentice: Mosspaw

Needleclaw - dark gray tabby tom

Ashfeather - speckled gray tabby she-cat

Stonewhisker - brown tabby tom

Apprentices: (Cats older than six moons in training to become warriors)

Mudpaw - ginger-and-white she-cat; ten moons old

Snakepaw - dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes; seven moons old

Mosspaw - gray-and-white she-cat; seven moons old

Queens: (She-cats expecting or nursing kits)

Rosebush - dark brown tabby she-cat with white paws.

Elders: (Warriors and queens now retired)

Tigerscar - battle-scarred black tom with white tail tip

Acornshadow - tortoiseshell she-cat

WindClan

Leader: Sablestar - long-haired brown tabby she-cat with green eyes

Deputy: Plumwhisker - pretty gray tabby she-cat

Medicine Cat: Larkwing - gray tabby tom

Apprentice: Berryshine

Warriors: (Toms and she-cats without kits)

Hawkbreeze - brown-and-white tabby she-cat

Swiftflight - pale gray tabby tom

Apprentice: Thistlepaw

Midgepelt - mottled brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Apprentice: Amberpaw

Spiderleg - long-haired black-and-white she-cat with long legs

Bramblepool - tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat

Kestrelwing - speckled brown tom

Apprentice: Bluepaw

Antclaw - dark ginger tom

Crowflight - black she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentices: (Apprentices older than six moons, in training to become warriors)

Berryshine - tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat

Thistlepaw - fluffy gray she-cat; eight moons old

Amberpaw - ginger tabby tom with green eyes; eight moons old

Bluepaw - blue-gray tom with amber eyes; eight moons old

Elders: (Warriors and queens now retired)

Quailsong - mottled gray she-cat

Chapter Text

Chapter One

The sun was beginning to slide below the horizon as Maplepaw dropped into a hunter's crouch. Her eyes locked on a large squirrel in front of her. The squirrel sat at the base of an oak, unaware of the cat in its presence. Stalking forward, she pounced onto the squirrel, giving it a quick bite to the neck. Sitting up, Maplepaw turned to look at her mentor, her eyes gleaming with pride.

"Good job," Bloomheart praised before glancing up at the sky. "We should start heading back to camp. It's getting late."

Maplepaw nodded. Grabbing her squirrel, she began to follow Bloomheart back to camp. Leaves crunched under paw as the two cats trekked through the forest, too tired to speak. The closer they got to camp, the more tired Maplepaw felt. She had been an apprentice for half a moon, and she still wasn't used to the rigorous training.

The ravine that made up ThunderClan's camp came into view. Maplepaw followed Bloomheart down the rocky path and into camp.

"Great catch, Maplepaw!" Deerdapple called as Maplepaw strode past her on the way to the fresh-kill pile.

"She's shaping up to be an excellent hunter," Bloomheart meowed. "I'm lucky to have such a good apprentice."

"Not as good as my Goldenpaw," Deerdapple teased as she walked away.

Maplepaw felt a twinge of jealousy as she watched Deerdapple go. She set her squirrel down on the fresh-kill pile before turning to Bloomheart. "Am I free to go?" she asked.

Bloomheart nodded. "You did an excellent job today, Maplepaw. Don't let Deerdapple get to you. She was only teasing."

"I know that," Maplepaw growled. Grabbing a shrew off the fresh-kill pile, Maplepaw made her way over towards the apprentice's den where her sister, Dawnpaw, sat.

"Finally! I wondered when you'd get back to camp. You've been out all day," Dawnpaw exclaimed.

"I had a lot to do today." Maplepaw shrugged as she settled down to eat her shrew.

"Bloomheart must be a tough mentor. He keeps you on your paws all day. I'm surprised they don't fall off."

The tortoiseshell she-cat shook her head. "He's trying to teach me as much as he can. With tensions high with RiverClan, ThunderClan needs warriors now more than ever." After tearing off a couple of mouthfuls, Maplepaw pushed the remnants of the shrew to her sister.

"We'd have a lot less problems if Oakstar would give RiverClan those dumb rocks already. They're more trouble than they're worth," Dawnpaw grumbled through a mouthful of shrew.

Maplepaw's eyes narrowed. "You don't understand anything, do you? If Oakstar gives Sunningrocks away, the other Clans will see that as a sign of weakness. Who knows what could happen then? ShadowClan would start asking for the territory around Snakerocks. WindClan—

"What about WindClan?" Birchpaw interrupted as he padded forward, his sister Goldenpaw flanking him.

"Maplepaw thinks WindClan would try to steal territory from us if we lost Sunningrocks," Dawnpaw explained.

A growl rose in Birchpaw's throat. "I'd like to see those scrawny rabbit-chasers try."

"They know they'd never beat us," Goldenpaw boasted. "Besides, we'd never lose Sunningrocks in the first place. ThunderClan has the best warriors in all the forest. Or, at least they will once Birchpaw and I get our warrior names, which won't be long now."

"You're only eight moons old," Maplepaw snapped.

"So? There's no rule that says an apprentice has to train for six moons. After tonight's battle—

"What battle?" Maplepaw demanded, the fur on the back of her neck bristling.

Goldenpaw smirked. "Oh, right. I forgot you two wouldn't know about that. My father told Birchpaw and me that he's planning a raid on RiverClan's camp tonight. If Birchpaw and I do well, he promised to make us warriors."

"You can't be serious!" Maplepaw exclaimed. "What about me and Dawnpaw?"

"Maybe next time," the golden-furred apprentice replied. "After all, you two have only been apprentices for a half-moon. How much training could you possibly have? You'd be more of a liability if we brought you." Without saying another word, Goldenpaw and Birchpaw walked away.

A low growl rose in Maplepaw's throat. She didn't like the arrogant tone of voice Goldenpaw always used when speaking to her. She thinks she can do whatever she wants because she's Oakstar's daughter, Maplepaw fumed. Glancing at Birchpaw, Maplepaw was thankful the dark tabby wasn't as arrogant as his sister.

Dawnpaw pressed herself against Maplepaw as if she sensed her sister's discomfort. "Don't worry, there's always next time."

"It's not that," Maplepaw confessed. "I just can't stand that Goldenpaw. She thinks she's better than everyone because her father is Clan leader."

"Ignore her," Dawnpaw urged.

A few minutes later, Oakstar leaped to the top of the High Rock. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a Clan meeting!"

Maplepaw's stomach churned as she padded forward. This is it, she thought, eyeing Goldenpaw and Birchpaw.

"As you all know, ThunderClan has been at odds with RiverClan for many seasons. I have been thinking of solutions and have come to the conclusion: we must attack RiverClan's camp!" Oakstar meowed.

Yowls of protest rang out across the clearing.

"Wouldn't that make everything worse?" Sweetbriar fretted.

"They'd see us coming! We'd never make it across the stepping stones without being noticed," Thrushtalon cried.

Once the yowls of protest faded, Oakstar dipped his head. "I hear all your concerns, but I assure everyone that there is nothing to worry about. Once we show RiverClan what we are capable of, they will never dare set paw on Sunningrocks again. Plus, we will have the element of surprise on our side tonight. There's a Twoleg bridge located in RiverClan's territory near Fourtrees. If we attack from there..."

"They'd never see us coming," Beetail finished.

Leaping down from the Highrock, Oakstar pushed his way through the crowd as he called out names. "Deerdapple, Bloomheart, Rowanfur, Dovesong, Thrushtalon, Seedpelt, Whitefoot, Goldenpaw, Birchpaw..." Maplepaw gulped as Oakstar stopped in front of her. "...And Maplepaw. I want you to go with us on tonight's raid. As for the rest of you, I want you to stay behind and guard the camp." Maplepaw's heart pounded as she rose to her paws. This was her first battle, and she wasn't sure what to expect. What if she couldn't remember all the battle moves Bloomheart had taught her?

"Maplepaw, wait!" Maplepaw saw her parents, Hazelheart and Rowanfur, approaching, with Dawnpaw not far behind.

"Please be careful," Hazelheart pleaded. Glancing at Rowanfur she asked, "You'll take care of her, won't you?"

"Of course," Rowanfur assured his mate, giving her a gentle lick on the ear. "I won't let her out of my sight."

Hazelheart let out a sigh, burying her nose in Maplepaw's fur. "I love you. Please make it home."

Maplepaw's throat tightened. "I love you too. Don't worry about me," she whispered, pulling back.

Before her mother could say anything else, Oakstar called out, "It's time to leave!"

Taking a deep breath, Maplepaw began to follow after her Clanmates as they raced out of camp and up the ravine. Maplepaw struggled to make her way up the ravine in the dark, stumbling a few times.

"Do you need help?" Birchpaw asked as he fell into place beside her.

"I'm fine," she insisted, picking up the pace a little. She wasn't in the mood to hear Birchpaw and Goldenpaw brag all the way to RiverClan's territory.

Suddenly, the ground under Maplepaw began to crumble, causing her to lose her footing. Sliding backward, Maplepaw tumbled into Birchpaw, who grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. Maplepaw pulled away roughly, embarrassment flooding over her. "Thank you," she muttered, flicking her tail.

Birchpaw let out a purr. "You're welcome. The ravine can be tough to climb, especially at night."

"Yeah, I guess so."

The two apprentices walked in silence, too nervous to speak. Glancing at the sky, Maplepaw wondered if StarClan would be on their side tonight. Please watch over me and my Clanmates, she prayed. Please let every one of us return home and keep all our Clanmates back in the camp safe as well.

"What are you thinking about?" Birchpaw wondered.

"Do you think StarClan will be on our side?"

Birchpaw was quiet for a moment before nodding. "Of course. StarClan is always by our side."

Maplepaw felt uncertain. "How do you know? What if they don't agree with this battle and abandon us?"

"Will you abandon ThunderClan once you die?" Birchpaw asked.

The tortoiseshell she-cat shook her head. "Of course not. My loyalty will always be with ThunderClan, no matter what!" she vowed.

"See? Have faith in our warrior ancestors. They know what we've been through and know we're defending ourselves," Birchpaw said.

"I suppose you're right. I guess I'm just nervous. This will be my first battle, and I don't know what to expect," Maplepaw admitted.

"This is my first battle too. While I've fought in a couple of border skirmishes here and there, I've never participated in a real battle. I know Goldenpaw is excited, but I'm not so sure. I want to be a warrior more than anything, but..."

"You're afraid you won't survive?" Maplepaw guessed.

"Exactly," Birchpaw sighed. "Please don't tell anyone. I don't want them to be disappointed in me."

"Why would they be disappointed in you?" Maplepaw wondered. "Battles aren't a walk through the forest, after all."

The dark tabby glanced at the forest floor. "I just have a lot of expectations resting on my shoulders that I need to hold up. No cat is supposed to know this, but my father plans to make me his deputy someday."

"What?!" she exclaimed, earning a few glares from her Clanmates.

"Be quiet!" Bloomheart scolded. "RiverClan will hear us coming at this rate if you keep it up."

Maplepaw ducked her head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry," she apologized.

Birchpaw gave her a sympathetic look. "I'll talk to you later," he promised her as he padded forward to catch up with his sister.

The cats walked in silence for the rest of the way. As soon as the Twoleg bridge came into view, Maplepaw's heart began to pound even faster. Keep calm. It will be over before I even know it, she thought. After crossing the bridge, the undergrowth and trees began to thin out, revealing reeds.

Oakstar paused, turning to his Clanmates. "We're almost to RiverClan's camp," he whispered, his voice so quiet Maplepaw could barely hear him. "I want us to split into two groups. Seedpelt, Dovesong, Thrushtalon, Birchpaw, and Goldenpaw: I want you to come with me. We'll attack from the left. Deerdapple, Bloomheart, Rowanfur, Whitefoot, and Maplepaw: you'll go with Beetail. I want you to attack from the right." Once every cat split up into their groups, Oakstar looked over his Clanmates. "Good luck, everyone. May StarClan light your paths and allow you all to return home safe," he meowed. Turning to Beetail he added, "Don't attack until I do." Oakstar padded away without another word, signaling with his tail for his group to follow him.

Birchpaw and Goldenpaw shot Maplepaw a look as they followed after their father. As soon as they were out of sight, Maplepaw turned and followed after Beetail.

Slippery reeds rubbed against her pelt, while mud squelched under her paw, causing her to grimace. This is disgusting. No wonder RiverClan is always trying to steal our territory. I wouldn't want to live here either, she thought in disgust.

Beetail finally came to a halt beside a clump of tightly woven reeds. "We're here," he whispered. He signaled for everyone to duck down in the reeds as he crept to the camp wall. He began to pull the reeds apart until there was enough space for every cat to fit through. Once he was done, he crouched down, waiting for Oakstar's command.

A few moments later, a loud cry sounded from RiverClan's camp. "That's our signal. Let's go!" Beetail hissed, slipping through the hole in the camp wall.

One by one, the other cats followed after him, until Maplepaw was the only one left. She hesitated, afraid of what awaited her on the other side. Swallowing her fear, she burst into RiverClan's camp, only to be knocked to the ground moments after.

Spinning around, Maplepaw looked up to see a snarling, ginger apprentice standing over her. The apprentice began to claw at Maplepaw's ears. Her thorn-sharp claws dug into Maplepaw's body, tearing her flesh as they went.

Maplepaw kicked at the she-cat's stomach, throwing her off. Jumping to her paws, Maplepaw raced forward. She grabbed the RiverClan apprentice with her claws. The apprentice squealed as Maplepaw's claws dug into her skin. The two she-cats began to wrestle until the ginger apprentice slipped and fell to the ground. Maplepaw wasted no time climbing on top of her opponent, her grip never loosening. The apprentice wriggled underneath, trying to free herself, but it was no use.

"Let me go!" the apprentice begged, her eyes wide.

"Never!" Maplepaw hissed.

"Why are you doing this? I haven't done anything to you. Please let me go," she pleaded.

Maplepaw dug her claws even deeper into the apprentice's skin. As she watched the apprentice squirm under her grip, a wave of pity overcame her. No, she thought, pushing it away. I can't show any sympathy now. This is payback for everything RiverClan has done to us over the last couple of seasons. They need to learn a lesson!

Suddenly, Maplepaw fell forward into the ground. Disoriented, she staggered to her paws before turning around to face her new attacker. A sleek-furred, brown tabby tom stood before her, his green eyes narrowed in a look of disgust. He stood there for a few moments before bending down to help his Clanmate up. "Are you okay, Reedpaw?" he whispered.

Reedpaw nodded. "I'm fine, Applepaw."

Applepaw turned his attention back towards Maplepaw. "You're outnumbered now," he spat.

Maplepaw lifted her chin. "You don't scare me," she retorted.

"You're fish-brained if you think you can take both of us on," Applepaw said, lashing his tail.

"Who said she'll be taking you on alone?" a new voice sounded. Spinning around, Maplepaw saw Goldenpaw limp forward. Blood ran down the side of the she-cat's forehead, and tufts of fur were missing from her left shoulder.

Without any warning, Goldenpaw launched herself at Reedpaw. Maplepaw darted after her Clanmate, grabbing Applepaw. Applepaw shoved her away, pulling clumps of fur out with him. Maplepaw bit down on his tail, causing the brown tabby to screech in pain. The battle continued to rage on all around Maplepaw as she tussled with Applepaw. The more she grappled with the RiverClan tom, the more tired she felt. She could tell Applepaw was growing tired as well, as his blows began to get weaker and less precise.

"ThunderClan, retreat!" Oakstar screeched.

Maplepaw shoved Applepaw away, her eyes wide. "What's going on?" she demanded, scanning the clearing.

Before she could get a response, Goldenpaw shoved her through the hole in the camp wall. "Come on!" she ordered as she raced through the reeds.

Maplepaw followed after her, heart pounding. "Why did Oakstar order us to retreat? Did someone die?"

"I don't know," Goldenpaw panted. "We'll figure out soon enough. Just keep running, because they're following us!"

Maplepaw turned to look behind her. Applepaw and Reedpaw were racing after them, their eyes narrowed. Putting on an extra burst of speed, Maplepaw raced forward, her paws flying over the ground. She had never run so fast in her life. Flying over the bridge, Maplepaw tumbled into the undergrowth on the other side. Goldenpaw was at her side. The two she-cats raced through the forest until a bramble caught around Maplepaw's foot, sending her tumbling down the side of a slope.

Goldenpaw skidded to a halt, her eyes wide. She raced down the slope until she was at Maplepaw's side. "Are you okay?"

Maplepaw let out a gasp of pain as she tried to stand. "I think I've sprained my paw."

"That's too bad," Applepaw's voice sounded from behind.

Goldenpaw bared her teeth in a snarl. "You can't attack us here. This isn't your territory."

"That didn't stop you though, did it?" Reedpaw hissed, appearing behind Applepaw.

The ginger apprentice leaped gracefully down the slope until she stood nose to nose with Goldenpaw. The fur on the back of Goldenpaw's neck began to bristle. Before either she-cat could attack, the undergrowth began to rustle. Oakstar, Rowanfur, and Birchpaw padded forward. Reedpaw's eyes widened in fear as she scrambled back up the slope beside Applepaw.

"The battle is over. Go home," Oakstar ordered.

Applepaw stood there in defiance before Reedpaw nudged him away.

As soon as the RiverClan apprentices were out of earshot, Oakstar turned towards Maplepaw and Goldenpaw. "Are you both alright?" he asked.

"I think I've sprained my paw," Maplepaw told him.

"Here, let me help you then," Oakstar offered as he nudged Maplepaw to her feet. "Lean on me."

Maplepaw pressed against her leader as she limped through the forest. Rowanfur and Birchpaw hovered on the other side of her, their eyes filled with concern. As they made their way through the forest, Maplepaw turned to look up at the ThunderClan leader. "Is everyone all right?" she asked, her stomach churning with fear.

"Everyone is alive if that's what you're asking," he answered.

"Why did we retreat then?" Goldenpaw wondered, making up the rear. "We could have won!"

"This wasn't a battle to be won," Oakstar replied. "I only wanted to teach them a lesson, not kill their Clanmates and take over their territory." Looking over at Birchpaw he added, "This is something you young cats might have to deal with one day, should you ever become leader. I hope that you will all remember this experience and make the right choice should you ever find yourself in this position."

Birchpaw looked away, unable to meet his father's gaze. Maplepaw shot him a sympathetic look, remembering Birchpaw's words from earlier. I'll have to talk to him about this later.

The rest of the walk home was silent. As the ravine came into sight, all four of Maplepaw's Clanmates helped her down the rocky slope. Her muscles ached with every step, and she longed for nothing more than to curl up in the safety of the apprentice's den.

"Thank StarClan you're home!" Dawnpaw exclaimed as Maplepaw limped through the camp entrance. Within a moment, her sister was by her side, covering her in licks. "I was worried sick about you."

"She'll talk to you in a moment. She needs to see Ravenwing," Rowanfur told her. Turning to Oakstar he mewed, "I'll take her from here."

Oakstar nodded as he began padding away to check over the rest of his Clan.

Rowanfur guided his daughter towards the medicine cat's den. Inside, Ravenwing was dabbing a poultice onto Deerdapple's tail before wrapping it in cobweb. Once he had finished, he nudged her out of his den and turned to Maplepaw and her father.

"She sprained her paw," Rowanfur explained.

"She couldn't have told me that herself?" Ravenwing remarked.

Maplepaw glared at the medicine cat but said nothing. She was too tired to argue with Ravenwing. To her relief, the medicine cat said nothing more as he began to sort through his herbs. Grabbing a bundle of unfamiliar plants in his jaws, Ravenwing dropped them in front of her. "Eat these. They'll take away your pain, as well as make sure none of your scratches get infected," he ordered.

Maplepaw lapped up the leaves, grimacing at the sour taste. "Thanks," she muttered.

"Come back again tomorrow," Ravenwing meowed. Turning to Rowanfur he said, "She needs to stay off that paw for the next week. Make sure Bloomheart knows she isn't to take part in any training whatsoever."

Rowanfur dipped his head to the medicine cat. "Thank you," he meowed as he led Maplepaw out of the den. "You hear what he said?" her father asked once they were out of earshot.

"Yes," Maplepaw yawned.

"Good." Rowanfur paused outside of the apprentice's den where Dawnpaw and Hazelheart were waiting.

"What did Ravenwing say?" Hazelheart asked.

"I have to stay off my paw for the rest of the week," Maplepaw answered, her eyes drooping.

Hazelheart gave her a sympathetic look as she led her daughters inside of the apprentice's den. Maplepaw immediately flopped down in her nest, Dawnpaw not far behind her. "Goodnight. We love you," Hazelheart and Rowanfur whispered as they slipped out of the den.

"I love you too," Maplepaw yawned, flicking her tail. Dawnpaw pressed against her, the warmth of her body lulling Maplepaw to sleep. Squeezing her eyes shut, Maplepaw fell asleep.

Chapter Text

Chapter Two

The next morning, Maplepaw woke to the sound of hushed voices. She sat up, blinking her bleary eyes, before looking around the den. Birchpaw and Goldenpaw huddled by the entrance of the den, their heads lowered as they whispered to one another. "What's going on?" Maplepaw asked.

"Our warrior ceremony is going to start soon," Birchpaw replied. There was a strange gleam in his eyes, one that Maplepaw couldn't quite place.

Focusing on what Birchpaw had just said, Maplepaw frowned. So Goldenpaw had been telling the truth after all. "Oh," was all she managed to say. It wasn't that she was jealous; she would just miss sharing a den with Birchpaw. Despite the fact she wasn't very close to the brown tom, she still enjoyed his company. She even enjoyed Goldenpaw's company to a degree, even if the golden she-cat could be arrogant at times. The apprentice's den would be a lot lonelier without them.

Goldenpaw gave Maplepaw a sympathetic look. "Don't be sad. You'll get your warrior name soon enough."

Maplepaw said nothing as she turned away from the older apprentices. She didn't feel like talking anymore. The battle last night had left her exhausted, and her sprained paw throbbed. All she wanted to do was curl up in her nest and go back to sleep, but she couldn't miss her denmate's ceremony.

"Hey, how is your paw?" Birchpaw asked, almost as though he had read her mind.

"It hurts."

Birchpaw frowned, his eyes filled with concern. "Do you want me to take you to see Ravenwing?"

She nodded, staggering to her paws. Birchpaw pressed against her and gently led her out of the den and across the camp. As they walked, Maplepaw grimaced. She had never been in so much pain in her life. Even the scratches the RiverClan apprentices had inflicted on her were nothing compared to this.

"Ravenwing!" Birchpaw called as they neared the medicine cat den.

Ravenwing appeared moments later. He eyed Maplepaw, his gaze unreadable. "I'll be right back," he meowed, darting back inside of his den.

Maplepaw pressed against Birchpaw as she waited. "What if my paw never heals?" she whispered.

"It will. Don't worry," Birchpaw assured her.

"What if I never become a warrior?" Maplepaw continued, ignoring him. "Then what will I do?"

Before Birchpaw could respond, Ravenwing slid out of his den with a bundle of herbs in his jaws. "Eat these," he ordered as he placed the herbs down in front of Maplepaw.

Maplepaw lapped up the leaves, wrinkling her nose at their bitter taste. Ravenwing sniffed at her pelt as she ate, examining her for any signs of illness or infection. "You're clear," Ravenwing meowed as Maplepaw swallowed the last of the herbs.

"Thanks," she rasped. She pressed closer to Birchpaw as waves of exhaustion crashed over her.

Birchpaw's eyes glistened with fear. "Are you sure she's okay?" he asked Ravenwing.

"She's fine," Ravenwing promised. "She's just tired. Get her back to her nest immediately."

"But I'll miss Birchpaw's warrior ceremony," Maplepaw protested as she fought to keep her eyes open.

"Don't worry about that right now," Birchpaw meowed as he led her back to the apprentice's den.

"But I-"

"I said don't worry about it," Birchpaw interrupted.

Maplepaw let out a yawn, too tired to argue. Once they were inside the apprentice's den, she hurried towards her nest and flopped down.

"Don't worry about the ceremony," Birchpaw repeated as he hovered over her. "I'll ask Oakstar to postpone it for a couple of hours, while you take a nap. Meanwhile, Goldenpaw and I are going to go hunting, so get some rest. I'll wake you when it's time for the ceremony." Without saying another word, Birchpaw turned and slid out of the den.

Maplepaw sighed as she watched him go, her eyelids heavy with exhaustion. The den seemed to spin around her as she laid her head down in her nest, before drifting off to sleep once again.

"Wake up!" Birchpaw's voice sounded in her ear as he prodded her awake.

Maplepaw sat up, her head pounding. "How long was I asleep?" she mumbled, rubbing a paw over one of her eyes.

"A few hours. How do you feel?" he asked.

"Okay, I guess. Just tired," Maplepaw said. "When is the ceremony?"

"In a few minutes," Birchpaw mewed as he hurried out into the clearing.

Maplepaw followed after him, her pelt prickling with anxiety. She was just as nervous as he was. Stop it, she scolded herself. He's only becoming a warrior. He's not going away forever.

Birchpaw sat at the edge of the camp, warily scanning the clearing as though he expected RiverClan to come crashing through at any moment. The fur on the back of his neck bristled, and he dug his claws into the sandy earth. "I'm so nervous," he confessed. "From the moment you're born, this is all you dream of. And now it's finally happening. What if it's not worth it?" Birchpaw averted his gaze, a flash of shame crossing his face.

"It will be," Maplepaw promised him, pressing close.

"But what if it's not?" he repeated once more, this time looking up. "What's the point in becoming a warrior, if you can't even defend your Clan properly? How many cats have died throughout the Clans history, only for nothing to change? Their Clan mourns for them for a time, before going right back to fighting over prey and territory until the next unlucky soul shares the same fate. It's an endless cycle, and I'm not sure I want to be a part of it," Birchpaw growled.

Maplepaw stared at him in alarm. "What's gotten into you?" she demanded.

"I'll tell you later," Birchpaw sighed.

"No, I want you to tell me now!" she insisted.

"I said I'll tell you later," Birchpaw growled. He lifted his gaze towards Goldenpaw, who was racing towards them, tail high.

"I just talked to Father. He said our ceremony will be starting in a few moments. I'm so excited!" Goldenpaw beamed with happiness, her golden fur sleek and shiny. "I wonder what our names will be."

"What are you hoping for?" Maplepaw wondered, trying to forget about her conversation with Birchpaw. He's probably just nervous, she decided.

"To be honest, I'm not really sure," Goldenpaw admitted. "I was thinking something like Goldendapple after Deerdapple, but I feel like that's a bit of a mouthful. I was also thinking about Goldenheart, Goldenwish, Goldenfur..."

Maplepaw tuned out as Goldenpaw rambled on, her attention now on Oakstar. The ThunderClan leader appeared at the mouth of his den, before leaping up on top of the Highrock.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a Clan meeting!" he yowled.

The three apprentices stood to their paws and made their way over to the center of the clearing. Maplepaw hung back, allowing for Birchpaw and Goldenpaw's mother, Dovesong, to sit beside them. Dawnpaw and Hazelheart came to sit beside Maplepaw, while Rowanfur wasn't far off.

As soon as the Clan had gathered, Oakstar leaped to the ground. His eyes gleamed with pride as he made his way towards his kits. "Today I would like to make Birchpaw and Goldenpaw warriors. They have proved themselves worthy after last night's battle. Beetail," Oakstar called out, turning towards Birchpaw's mentor, "has Birchpaw proved himself worthy of earning his warrior name?"

"He has," Beetail purred.

"And Deerdapple, has Goldenpaw proved herself worthy of earning her warrior name?"

"Yes," Deerdapple meowed, puffing out her chest with pride. "It was an honor to train her."

Oakstar let out a pleased purr. "I, Oakstar leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard, and I commend them as warriors in return. Birchpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code to defend and protect your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Birchpaw hesitated for a few moments. "I do," he finally meowed, his voice dry and emotionless.

"Then from this moment forward, you shall be known as Birchface." Oakstar turned to Goldenpaw. "Goldenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code-"

"I do!" Goldenpaw interrupted, unable to contain her excitement.

Deerdapple shot her a stern glare, but Oakstar didn't seem to mind Goldenpaw's outburst. The leader's gaze betrayed nothing but pride and happiness towards his kittens.

"From this moment forward, you shall be known as Goldenmist in honor of your beauty and grace. StarClan welcomes you both as new warriors of ThunderClan," Oakstar said.

"Birchface! Goldenmist!" Maplepaw yowled out, the rest of her Clanmates joining in.

Birchface looked around the clearing nervously, while Goldenmist submerged herself in conversation with several of their Clanmates.

"What's wrong with Birchface?" Dawnpaw whispered.

"I don't know. Perhaps he's just nervous?" Maplepaw shrugged. She tried not to worry too much about Birchface. He's wrong about what he said earlier. Being a warrior is worth it.

Chapter Text

Chapter Three

Maplepaw stalked through the forest, her tortoiseshell pelt camouflaging her in the fallen leaves. A shrew scampered through the leaves ahead of her, searching for food. You won't be needing food when I'm done with you, Maplepaw thought, licking her lips. She slowly pulled herself forward, until she was in pouncing range. Springing forward, her claws locked into the shrew's pelt, tossing it up into the air. It landed with a thud, still alive. It kicked its back legs as it struggled to get up, but Maplepaw was on it once again, this time landing a killing bite to its neck.

"What have I told you about doing that?" Bloomheart scolded as he pushed his way through the brittle, dead, undergrowth.

"I know, but I don't see what the big deal is. I caught it, didn't I?" she quipped.

"Prey is not a toy. You should treat it with respect, as it is a gift from StarClan. Besides, what if you had missed that catch? With leafbare just around the corner, we can't afford to go hungry now," Bloomheart said.

"This will barely feed anyone. Look at how scrawny it is," Maplepaw mewed, nudging it with her paw.

"Maplepaw!" Bloomheart hissed, giving her a stern glare.

"Sorry," Maplepaw apologized, ducking her head.

"I forgive you," her mentor said. "Just don't do it again, okay?"

"I won't." Maplepaw grabbed the shrew in her mouth and began to follow Bloomheart back to camp. Along the way, Bloomheart paused beside a beech tree where they had buried their prey from earlier.

As he gently shook the dirt off of the prey, Maplepaw turned and gazed across the forest. They were close to Sunningrocks, and from where she was standing she thought she could make out the shape of a cat, although she was not sure who it was.

"Can I meet you back at camp?" she asked, dropping her shrew.

"But-"

Maplepaw tore off through the forest, ignoring Bloomheart's yowls of protest. As she neared Sunningrocks, she unsheathed her claws, ready for a battle. She knew she was being reckless, but she was so restless that she couldn't help herself. This was the first time she had been out of camp since the battle a half-moon ago, and her paws were itching for action.

Maplepaw let out a screech as she leaped from the undergrowth onto Sunningrocks. Her stomach dropped as she realized the cat she had spotted from earlier was none other than Birchface. "Sorry, I thought you were a RiverClan intruder," she apologized, her pelt dripping with embarrassment.

Before Birchface could respond, Bloomheart appeared from the undergrowth, fuming. "What has gotten into you today?!" he roared, marching towards his apprentice. "You are going to be in so much trouble when we get back to camp."

"Wait!" Birchface blurted out.

Bloomheart narrowed his eyes. "What for?"

"Maplepaw came to my rescue. As I was hunting, I spotted a RiverClan cat sunning himself on the rocks. I tried to chase him off, and well, you know how fat and heavy those RiverClan cats can be. Maplepaw saw I was being attacked, and came to my rescue. As soon as she appeared, the fishface went running for his life," Birchface lied smoothly.

"Is this true?" Bloomheart asked, eyes wide.

Maplepaw looked over at Birchface, nodding. "Yes." Please believe us!

"I'm impressed. Good job, Maplepaw," Bloomheart praised.

"Yes, good job Maplepaw," Birchface agreed. "You were very brave. In fact, I think I might ask Oakstar if he'll allow you to attend the Gathering tonight. You deserve it."

Bloomheart opened his mouth to object, but Maplepaw quickly cut him off. "Are you sure? Honestly, it was nothing. I feel like defeating three ShadowClan warriors with my eyes closed, and one paw tied behind my back is a much more worthy achievement," she teased, playing along with Birchface.

"Three ShadowClan warriors? That's nothing! Try taking on ten ShadowClan warriors with your eyes closed, a paw behind your back, and the biggest badger sitting on your shoulders. Now that's a challenge," he purred.

"I bet you could do it," she joked.

"In my sleep, even," Birchface agreed.

"Sorry to interrupt you two, but Maplepaw has prey to carry back to camp," Bloomheart reminded her.

Maplepaw let out a huff of annoyance. "See you back at camp," she called to Birchface as she followed her mentor into the forest.

The two walked in silence, not even speaking as they collected their prey. Maplepaw could tell Bloomheart was still angry with her, but the gray tabby tom said nothing.

Goldenmist and Birchface were waiting for them at the top of the ravine.

"How did you get back here so fast?" Maplepaw wondered, dropping her prey.

"I ran," Birchface panted. "I wanted to catch you before you were down the ravine. I... I need to talk to you if that's all right with you of course." The dark tabby looked over at Bloomheart, waiting for the older warrior to give him permission.

"I'll help you carry the prey," Goldenmist told Bloomheart, grabbing Maplepaw's dropped prey in her jaws.

"All right," Bloomheart agreed as he continued to make his way down the ravine, Goldenmist trailing after him.

"Come on," Birchface meowed in a hushed voice.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"The forest." Birchface continued to pick up his pace until he was running. Trees whipped around them as they raced past.

"Obviously," Maplepaw huffed. "Where are we really going?"

Birchface ignored her as he continued to run until he skidded to a halt at the bottom of a ridge. He paused for a moment to catch his breath, before making his way up the steep hill.

"How much farther? My paws are about to fall off," the tortoiseshell apprentice complained as she trekked up the slope behind him.

"We're here." He paused, standing at the base of a curved oak. Instead of growing straight up, the oak curved halfway up and began to grow sideways.

"You brought me all the way out here to show me a tree?" Maplepaw hissed.

"It's neat, isn't it?" Birchface meowed. "Goldenmist and I used to come here and play all the time before our training got too serious." He padded around to the other side of the tree. "Bees used to live here, but I see they're gone now," he explained, flicking his tail towards a groove in the trunk. Without saying another word, Birchface hooked his claws into the tree and began to make his way up.

Maplepaw stared after him, before cautiously following him. Don't look down, she told herself as she made her way across the curved part of the tree. She kept her eyes on Birchface, as she continued to walk out across the tree.

"You did it," he purred.

"It was nothing," Maplepaw said, sitting beside him. The two were quiet for a few moments and just gazed out across the forest.

"It's beautiful here," she finally admitted. "But why haven't I known about this before?"

"Because technically, this isn't our territory. It's a little ways past our border. It's so close to the Twolegs place, that most warriors don't bother coming here," Birchface mewed.

Maplepaw peered through the trees, but could not see anything. "But Bloomheart has taken me hunting towards the Twolegs place several times before, and this looks nothing like the forest there."

"There's a strip of land that runs between the big Thunderpath and the Twolegs place. We're right in there. Like I said, most warriors don't bother coming here, so that's why you don't recognize it. If you were to continue going up the hill, you'd come across a much smaller Thunderpath, and then just beyond that is the Twolegs place," Birchface explained.

"How do you know so much? Have you ever gone there?" she questioned.

"No, but Goldenmist has ventured up to the Thunderpath, so that's how I know," he said.

They sat in silence once more, until Maplepaw meowed, "You didn't bring me out here just to show me some tree. What's this really about?"

Birchface let out a sigh, averting his gaze. Finally, he turned to her and looked her deep in the eye. "Do you remember the night of the battle, when I told you Oakstar was planning to make me deputy one day?"

She nodded slowly.

"It's true," Birchface whispered. "It's... a family tradition of sorts, supposedly going all the way back to Redstar, although I'm not sure how true that is. All I know is that Oakstar's father, Emberstar, was the leader before him, and Emberstar's mother, Fernstar, was the leader before that. Oakstar wants to carry on the tradition, so he plans on making me his deputy one day."

"What about Beetail?" Maplepaw wondered.

"Beetail knows."

"And he doesn't care?" Maplepaw's stomach churned nervously as she waited for his response. Something about this didn't seem right to her.

"No. Beetail's one of the most accepting cats I've ever seen. He and Oakstar go way back. They've been friends since my father was an apprentice. My mother says Beetail would commit murder if my father asked him to, and honestly, I think I believe her," Birchface grunted. "This whole thing disgusts me. Cats should become leaders because they deserved it, not because they're your kin. Well, I know one thing. This stupid tradition is dying with me."

Maplepaw tried to give his shoulder a comforting lick, but he jerked away unintentionally. She knew he didn't mean it, but the gesture felt like a thorn in her heart. Maplepaw slowly moved away from him, her ears flat to her head.

"I'm sorry," Birchface apologized. "I just get so mad thinking about this. Doesn't he realize I don't want this?"

"Have you tried talking to him about it?"

"A couple of times, but he just brushes me off. He says I'm too young to know what I want, and one day I'll change my mind," the dark tabby growled.

"Well, if you ever do change your mind, I know you'll be a fantastic leader," Maplepaw assured him.

"Thanks, but you're wrong. I don't have what it takes, and I never will. Goldenmist would make a much better leader than me, but Oakstar won't give her the time of day. He says she doesn't have what it takes, but I think he's just saying that. Goldenmist is just as capable of leading as I am, but Oakstar doesn't care. He's so determined to make me his deputy, that sometimes I feel that's all he cares about. Whenever we spend time together, that's all he talks about. I don't like it."

As Birchface continued to pour out his feelings, Maplepaw felt a pang of sympathy for her friend. "Is that why you were acting so odd on the day of your warrior ceremony?"

He nodded. "Becoming a warrior only makes me one step closer to becoming deputy one day, and then leader. When that happens, I'll be responsible for sending my Clanmates into battle, never knowing if this will be their last one. Cats will die because of me, and what for?"

Birchface quickly stood to his paws and pushed his way past Maplepaw. "I don't want to talk about this anymore. It's getting dark. We need to get back to camp before the Gathering starts."

Once the two cats were on the ground again, Birchface led Maplepaw through the forest back towards camp. Since the sun had already started to set as they were talking, the forest was already quite dark. Maplepaw shivered, pressing closer to Birchface. Besides the battle, she had never been out of camp so late at night, and even then she had been surrounded by her Clanmates. This time, she was alone with only Birchface to protect her.

"You asked Oakstar about the Gathering, right?" she whispered.

Birchface nodded. "Only for a moment, but he said you could come."

To her relief, the top of the ravine soon came into sight. Maplepaw's paws ached with every step as she carefully climbed down the rocky slope, down into the camp. Her Clanmates were clustered around the camp, chatting excitedly.

"There you are!" Dawnpaw exclaimed. "I've been looking for you for hours. Where have you been?" Her eyes widened as she saw Birchface squeeze through the gorse tunnel after Maplepaw. "Oh, I see," she smirked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Maplepaw demanded, giving her sister a shove.

"Nothing," Dawnpaw teased.

"Tell me!" Maplepaw growled.

"Do I really have to tell you? It's obvious to the whole Clan at this point! Do I really have to explain it to you?" Dawnpaw purred. When Maplepaw didn't respond, Dawnpaw rolled her eyes and said, "You and Birchface are in love!"

Maplepaw rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. We're nothing more than friends, and you know it."

"Right," Dawnpaw chuckled.

"I swear!" Maplepaw insisted. When Dawnpaw didn't seem convinced, Maplepaw let out a hiss of annoyance. "Fine, think what you want. But I'm telling you Birchface and I are nothing more than friends. I'm not interested in him like that at all. Besides, I'm already behind in my training. Love is the last thing on my mind. I don't want to think about taking a mate until I'm at least a senior warrior. So I'd appreciate you not joke about this anymore."

Dawnpaw glared at her sister. "Lighten up a bit. You're such a stick in the mud sometimes."

"Are you going to the Gathering tonight?" Maplepaw asked, trying to change the subject.

Dawnpaw immediately perked up. "Yes. Are you?"

Maplepaw nodded. "Birchface convinced Bloomheart to let me attend." As soon as she said it, Maplepaw let out a small groan. She didn't want to give Dawnpaw even more of a reason to tease her over Birchface. He's nothing more than a friend, she repeated to herself. To her relief, her sister remained quiet.

"I'm so excited," Dawnpaw chirped. "This is going to be our very first Gathering! I wonder what will happen."

"You're going to the Gathering?" Hazelheart's asked. The tortoiseshell she-cat was padding towards them, her pelt groomed neatly.

"Yep!" Dawnpaw mewed. The pale orange-and-white apprentice could barely contain her excitement as she waited.

Hazelheart let out a purr of amusement, before turning towards Maplepaw. "You'd better get cleaned up. We don't want the other Clans to think ThunderClan has unkempt apprentices."

Maplepaw flicked her tail in annoyance. "Who cares what the other Clans think?" she mumbled.

"I care," Hazelheart pointed out. She began to lick Maplepaw's pelt in an attempt to clean it. "I will not have my kits going around looking like rogues."

Maplepaw ducked away, embarrassed. "Do I really look that bad?"

"You look like you just rolled out of your nest," Dawnpaw teased as she began to help Hazelheart groom her sister.

After a few moments, the two cats sat back. "You're all done," Hazelheart purred.

Maplepaw puffed out her chest. "Thank you. How do I look?"

"Beautiful as always," her mother praised. "The both of you."

Oakstar appeared a few moments later. "It's time for the Gathering!" he announced, padding over towards the gorse tunnel. Maplepaw, Dawnpaw, and Hazelheart followed after him, along with Beetail, Ravenwing, Birchface, Goldenmist, Bloomheart, Sweetbriar, Dovesong, and Seedpelt. Once every cat was gathered, Oakstar turned and began to make his way up the ravine.

Maplepaw hesitated for a few moments. Her body ached from being on her paws all day. Perhaps I should stay home, she thought. No!

Surging forward, Maplepaw raced after her Clanmates, determined to go to her first Gathering.

Chapter Text

Chapter Four

By the time ThunderClan reached Fourtrees, Maplepaw was exhausted. She longed to curl up in her nest and go to sleep. She slowly stumbled after her Clanmates as they made their way into the clearing. She was so tired. She wasn't sure she could remain awake all night, but she had made her decision. I'll just have to endure it, she thought wearily.

Suddenly, Maplepaw felt something soft and furry under her paws.

"My tail! You're stepping on my tail!" a voice shrieked.

Maplepaw jumped back in alarm. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there," she blurted out, fully awake now.

"Don't walk around with your eyes closed next time, fishbrain," sneered a ginger she-cat. She then narrowed her eyes. "I know you. You're that ThunderClan apprentice from the battle that attacked me. Get away from me!"

A growl rose in Maplepaw's throat as she walked away. She began to scan the clearing for Dawnpaw, but she couldn't find her sister anywhere. Maybe I should have stayed home after all. This Gathering has been nothing but a disaster, and it hasn't even started yet!

"Hey!" a voice yowled from behind. Spinning around, Maplepaw recognized Applepaw, the other RiverClan apprentice she had encountered at the battle. The fur on the back of her neck began to bristle as he approached, but she tried her best to remain calm.

"I'm sorry about Reedpaw," Applepaw apologized.

Maplepaw flicked an ear but said nothing.

Applepaw awkwardly shuffled his paws, before meowing, "My name is Applepaw. We met at the battle. What's your name? I don't think I've caught it."

"Yes, I remember. My name is Maplepaw," she meowed stiffly.

"You're a pretty formidable fighter, Maplepaw," Applepaw praised. "Reedpaw still has nightmares." His eyes gleamed playfully.

"Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me I'm trying to find my sister." Without saying another word, Maplepaw turned and headed back into the crowd. Once she was far enough, she glanced back over her shoulder to see Applepaw standing there with a crestfallen look. I must have hurt his feelings, she realized. Perhaps I should go back and apologize. I wasn't trying to be rude. Maplepaw hesitated for a few seconds, before shaking her head. So what if Applepaw's feelings were hurt? They were sworn enemies. In the time of battle, they would be hurting each other more than words ever could.

Maplepaw finally spotted Dawnpaw. She was sitting beside Sweetbriar and three other unfamiliar cats. As Maplepaw neared them, she picked up WindClan's scent.

"There you are!" Dawnpaw purred. "I've been looking for you all night. Where have you been?"

"I got lost," Maplepaw lied. She didn't feel like telling Dawnpaw about her encounters with Reedpaw and Applepaw. The less those two were in her life, the better.

"Hello, Maplepaw. Come to join us?" Sweetbriar asked.

Maplepaw nodded.

"Well, we're glad to have you. Let me introduce you to my friends. Maplepaw, this is Hawkbreeze, Berryshine, and Thistlepaw from WindClan," Sweetbriar explained, pointing to each cat with her tail. "And this is Dawnpaw's sister, Maplepaw."

"Nice to meet you," Berryshine meowed.

"You too," Maplepaw meowed shyly.

"Is this your first Gathering?" Thistlepaw wondered.

"It's both of ours," Dawnpaw chirped.

"This is my second Gathering," Thistlepaw said. "It's good to have your littermates with you. My brothers, Amberpaw and Bluepaw, weren't allowed to come this time so I'm here by myself."

Maplepaw tuned out as Dawnpaw and Thistlepaw talked. She wasn't in the mood to socialize with anyone. To her relief, Oakstar leaped onto the Great Rock, followed by Darkstar and two other cats.

Once the crowd was silent, Oakstar stepped forward. "Good evening," he greeted. "All is well in ThunderClan this moon. Prey is running well for this time of year, and we have been blessed with two more warriors: my kits, Birchface and Goldenmist."

"Birchface! Goldenmist!" the Clans chanted happily.

As Maplepaw joined in, she realized that RiverClan had remained silent. Turning back towards the Great Rock, she noticed that Darkstar's fur was bristling angrily. What will happen if she brings up the battle? Maplepaw wondered.

Once Oakstar was done reporting, a long-haired brown tabby stepped forward. Based on her appearance alone, Maplepaw guessed this was Sablestar of WindClan. Bloomheart had mentioned the WindClan leader once before, although he had not gone into detail. Since long fur was uncommon in WindClan, rumor had it that the leader was half Clan, although it had never been confirmed.

Half-Clan, Maplepaw shuddered. How could any cat stand to take a mate outside of their Clan? I would rather die than take a mate from ShadowClan, WindClan, or even worse... RiverClan. The thought of their slimy, fishy, pelts brushing against mine... She gagged before pushing the thought away.

As she looked up, she realized she had missed what Sablestar had said. Smokestar of ShadowClan gave his report next, followed lastly by Darkstar. The black she-cat shot a glare towards Oakstar as she walked forward.

"RiverClan has not been as fortunate this moon," she began bitterly. "ThunderClan launched an unprovoked attack on us in the middle of the night. Fortunately, none of our warriors were killed." Darkstar hesitated for a few moments as though she wanted to say more but she quickly shut her mouth.

We hit them harder than she wants to let on, Maplepaw realized. A surge of satisfaction went through her, and she puffed out her chest slightly.

"No matter what happens, RiverClan will survive. We're one of the strongest Clans in the forest," Darkstar said.

Smokestar let out a faint purr of amusement, which upset Darkstar.

"What's so funny?" she demanded. "Do you find our suffering amusing?"

Smokestar's eyes widened. "Of course not," he insisted.

Darkstar barred her lips in a snarl. "Liar!" she spat. "You better remember this next time." She turned to look back at Oakstar, who did not meet her gaze. The ThunderClan leader looked on blindly, as though she was not even there. With one last hiss, Darkstar sprang from the Great Rock and raced into the forest beyond. The rest of RiverClan followed her.

The rest of the Clans exchanged confused looks before slowly splitting up themselves. As Maplepaw caught up to the rest of ThunderClan, she saw Dovesong and Oakstar locked in conversation.

"Are you worried?" Dovesong asked.

Oakstar shook his head. "There's nothing to be worried about. We'll talk about it when we get back to camp. Come on, let's go."

Dovesong didn't look convinced as she followed her mate up the slope and into the forest. Goldenmist walked alongside her mother, whispering in her ear.

Maplepaw began to look around for her own mother. She didn't want to admit it, but her stomach churned with fear. Tensions with RiverClan were much worse now, and while Maplepaw didn't know how long it would be, battle would soon be inevitable.

Chapter Text

Chapter Five

"If RiverClan wants a fight, they'll get one!" Maplepaw overheard Beetail yowling.

"For the last time, there's not going to be a fight," Oakstar hissed.

They were nearing camp now. Faint pink light shone on the horizon as the sun crept into the sky. Frost covered the forest, shining in the faint morning light. Although Maplepaw's body ached, her mind was alert after the Gathering. Despite what Oakstar said, she had an inkling that there would be another war sooner or later. She just wasn't sure when.

"Darkstar has made herself clear. She's angry, and she isn't going to back down. We need to do something before she strikes first!" Beetail insisted.

"I'm not going to start a war this close to leafbare," Oakstar argued. "For now, all we can do is keep our borders secure and reinforce the camp. Besides, RiverClan is still hurt. Darkstar isn't going to go waging war when half of her warriors are unable to fight. I kept an eye on them during the Gathering, and most of them were still limping. Spiketail's ear is still wrapped in cobweb."

"I gave him that," Beetail smirked, puffing his chest up proudly as he recanted the last battle.

The cats were climbing down into the ravine now. Once they were through the thorn tunnel, the warriors who had stayed behind began to slip out of their dens. Their eyes sparkled expectantly as they wanted for news.

"RiverClan is madder than a fox in a fit," Beetail exclaimed, earning a glare from Oakstar.

"But it's going to be okay," Oakstar insisted, trying to calm the worried cats. "RiverClan is still injured, so it will be a while before they try anything. For now, all we can do is guard the borders and reinforce the camp," he meowed, repeating his mantra from earlier.

Maplepaw could see the look of relief on some of the cat's faces, but she was not one of them. She was more nervous than she had ever been in her entire life, including the night of the battle. At least then she knew what she was getting herself into. Now her future was unknown. There could be a surprise attack at any moment.

Beside her, Dawnpaw quivered. "Do you think Oakstar is right?"

"Of course," Maplepaw lied. Her voice cracked as she spoke, making her mentally curse. She just hoped Dawnpaw wouldn't notice. Maplepaw wasn't sure why she had lied to her sister, but she supposed it was because she couldn't bear the thought of another battle. Although ThunderClan had made the last battle out alive, who was to say they would the next time?

"I think it's time for bed," Hazelheart interrupted them, nudging them towards their den.

Neither apprentice said anything as they trudged along, although Maplepaw wished she would be able to fall asleep. To her relief, she found herself drifting off as soon as her head hit the moss...

"Wake up," a rough, impatient voice sounded from above, jabbing a paw into Maplepaw's ribs.

Groaning, Maplepaw rolled over and blinked up at the source of the noise. There Ravenwing stood, a bored look on his face.

"What are you doing?" Maplepaw grumbled, closing her eyes once more.

"The two of you are coming herb collecting with me this morning," Ravenwing meowed.

"Herb collecting? You do realize we were both at the Gathering last night, right?" Dawnpaw meowed, sitting up in her nest.

"So was I. Now get up. Marigold isn't going to pick itself," Ravenwing snapped, growing more impatient by the second.

"I don't see why we have to help you," Maplepaw complained as the three of them trekked through the forest. It was now sun high, and a bundle of unfamiliar leaves dangled from her jaws. "Why couldn't you have asked someone who-"

Ravenwing stopped abruptly, the fur along the back of his neck bristling. "Be quiet," he instructed.

After a few heartbeats, Dawnpaw squeaked, "Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure," Ravenwing whispered. "I thought I heard something coming from the ferns over there." He flicked his tail in the direction he spoke of. Sure enough, the ferns gave another rustle.

Maplepaw tensed, claws unsheathed. She exchanged a look with her sister, before making her way towards the ferns. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a cat flew from the ferns, landing a few mouse lengths away.

Maplepaw immediately recognized the RiverClan apprentice, Applepaw. "What are you doing here?" she yowled angrily, batting his shoulder with her claws.

Applepaw recoiled at her attack, his eyes wide. He opened his mouth to speak, but his attention turned directly towards Ravenwing and Dawnpaw. As the three ThunderClan cats stared Applepaw down, he turned and fled back through the ferns.

Ignoring Ravenwing's protests, Maplepaw tore after the RiverClan apprentice. They were so far into ThunderClan's territory that she had to make sure Applepaw would leave. Applepaw raced through the forest, bobbing through the undergrowth and around the trees as fast as he could. He was fast. Maplepaw's muscles ached as the chase prolonged, but she couldn't let him get away. She had to protect her Clan!

Up ahead, Maplepaw could barely make out the shape of Sunningrocks. They were nearing the border now. Tearing out of the tree line, Applepaw headed directly for the rocks, just as Maplepaw expected he would. With a final burst of speed, Maplepaw launched herself forward, hooking her claws into Applepaw's hind legs. The two apprentices collided with the stone ground, tussling and yowling. Maplepaw could feel clumps of his fur being torn as her claws dug into his body.

"Stop!" he begged as he writhed underneath her. Maplepaw had him pinned now.

"Why were you on ThunderClan territory?" she demanded, her lips barred into a snarl.

"I-I was following you," he gasped out.

"Why?" she shouted, digging her claws in deeper.

Applepaw let out a screech of pain, but Maplepaw refused to loosen her grip. She knew if she showed him any mercy, he would escape. "I wanted to see you," he confessed. "But I didn't know you were with your Clanmates. Please let me go now!"

"Maplepaw," a voice called out, startling both Maplepaw and Applepaw. Glancing over her shoulder, Maplepaw saw Oakstar standing there. The ThunderClan leader had a calm expression on his face as he bounded down the rocks to stand beside her. "Let him go," he told her.

Maplepaw hesitated for a moment and then loosened her grip. Applepaw squirmed out from underneath her, his fur ruffled. Specks of blood dotted his shoulder where Maplepaw's claws had dug into his flesh.

"I don't know why you're on ThunderClan's territory, but since you're only an apprentice I will give you a pass this time. But just know, you are not welcome here, and should any of my warriors ever find you on our land again, there will be consequences. Have I made myself clear?" Oakstar meowed to Applepaw.

The RiverClan apprentice lowered his gaze. "Yes. I promise I won't do it again." Applepaw turned to give Maplepaw a pained expression, before slipping into the river and out of sight.

"I don't know why, but he said he was following me," Maplepaw told Oakstar.

"So I heard," Oakstar meowed. "Perhaps he likes you?"

Maplepaw's eyes widened. "But-"

"I was merely teasing you," Oakstar purred. "Come on, let's go home." As the two of them headed back towards ThunderClan's camp, Oakstar stopped at the base of a birch tree. "Sit," he instructed. "I want to speak with you for a moment."

Maplepaw gulped. "Am I in trouble?"

Oakstar's whiskers twitched. "Not at all. I just wanted to talk with you about some things I've observed about you."

Oakstar had been observing her? Maplepaw's stomach dropped as she waited for him to elaborate. How long had he been watching her? Was he impressed with her skills, or did he think she would make a terrible warrior?

"Don't look so nervous. I observe everyone in ThunderClan. I am the leader after all," Oakstar meowed. "But I find the progress of our apprentices the most important. You, Maplepaw, are the future of ThunderClan. Your training is most vital to our success, and our lives. Without apprentices, our Clan would soon run out of warriors."

Maplepaw let out a sigh of relief. "Do you think I'm going to make a good warrior?"

"With Bloomheart as your mentor, I have no doubts about it," Oakstar said. "But with that in mind, I'm afraid there are some things you must take into account yourself. While I am grateful you tried to protect ThunderClan today, I worry you're far too impulsive at times. I've noticed you tend to dive directly into situations without thinking things through."

Maplepaw dipped her head, feeling embarrassed.

"Don't look so downtrodden," Oakstar meowed, draping his tail across her shoulders. "I'm just telling you, so that hopefully in the future you won't get yourself into a situation you can't get out of. You're a good cat, Maplepaw, and I'm proud to have you in my Clan. Now let's go home."

That evening, Maplepaw sat at the edge of the camp, Dawnpaw at her side. The two sisters were chatting about today's events while sharing a squirrel.

"Do you know how lucky you are?" Dawnpaw exclaimed. "I mean, Oakstar of all cats stopped to talk with you!"

"It's not that big of a deal," Maplepaw muttered. She had wanted to keep her talk with Oakstar a secret, however, Dawnpaw had already been back to camp when Maplepaw and Oakstar had walked in together.

"It is a big deal. He's our leader. He doesn't stop to chitchat with everyone."

"It wasn't 'chitchat' okay? It was a serious conversation," Maplepaw said.

"Still, he stopped to talk to you. And he praised you at that!" Dawnpaw meowed.

"He didn't praise me," Maplepaw corrected her. "He just told me that I'm far too impulsive and that as an apprentice I'm the future of the Clan, so I need to be more thoughtful of my behavior. So if anything, he scolded me..." Sighing, she looked towards Oakstar's den. The ThunderClan leader was perched on top of the High Rock, with Dovesong and Goldenmist at his side. I wonder if he's talking about me right now?

"Okay, fine. But my point still stands. It was an honor that he would take the time to speak with you at all," Dawnpaw meowed.

"What if he's right?" Maplepaw asked, ignoring Dawnpaw. "What if one day I do end up in a situation I can't get out of? What will I do then?"

Chapter Text

Chapter Six

The forest was covered in a thick blanket of snow, several inches deep, as Maplepaw trekked after the morning patrol. Due to the cold, the patrol had set out later than normal, which was causing some anxiety among the group.

"We've given RiverClan a head start," Seedpelt complained under his breath. "They could be anywhere, watching us right now, waiting to attack!"

"The cold's made you go mad," Deerdapple snorted.

"You heard what Darkstar said," Seedpelt argued. "She's furious with us. It's only a matter of time before-"

"Darkstar's an old fool," Deerdapple hissed. "She's threatened us more times than we can count. I mean, how many moons ago was that Gathering? Three? And she hasn't dared attack us yet! If RiverClan actually wanted to attack us, they would have done so already. Besides, the river is frozen over right now. You really think Darkstar would risk sending her warriors into battle when they're probably all starving to death?"

"You never know," Seedpelt meowed ominously.

Maplepaw rolled her eyes. At first, she had been worried about Darkstar's threat, just as every cat in ThunderClan had been at the time. But as time passed, it became more apparent Darkstar was more talk than action.

"What do you think?" Goldenmist's voice sounded from beside Maplepaw.

"I agree with Deerdapple," Maplepaw meowed.

Goldenmist nodded. "Me too. It's obvious RiverClan isn't going to do anything. I bet they're terrified of us. I can't say I blame them. We really kicked their tail last time." Her whiskers twitched in amusement. Maplepaw assumed she was reminiscing about the battle.

Up ahead, Deerdapple paused, sniffing the air. "I smell vole," she whispered, facing the group. "We should stop and hunt while we're out. Maplepaw, you head with Goldenmist that way," she flicked her tail in the direction of some pine trees. "Seedpelt and I will look over here." She pointed towards the river.

Maplepaw nodded. She began heading in the direction of the pine trees, Goldenmist following her. When she reached the base of the tree, she opened her mouth and took a deep breath, trying to pick up the scent of vole. It was very faint.

"I think there's a nest over here," Goldenmist called. She was standing by the trunk of a fallen tree, her paw pointing towards a small hole in the ground.

Maplepaw padded over to her and stuck her face down by the hole. The scent was much stronger here, but not by much. "I think it's old," she meowed sadly.

"It still wouldn't hurt to try," Goldenmist suggested. Ducking down, she reached her paw into the hole, desperately trying to feel for something. After several failed attempts, Goldenmist sat back, shaking snow from her pelt.

"Mouse-dung," Maplepaw cursed.

"I think we should look somewhere else," Goldenmist meowed. "I wouldn't feel right going back to camp empty-pawed. There's got to be something around here."

"Maybe we should try looking around a holly tree? There might be some squirrels or birds around there, looking to eat the berries?"

"It's worth a shot." Goldenmist shrugged.

They trudged through the forest, trying to find a holly tree that had produced berries. The few they had stumbled across so far had been barren. By now, it was mid-day, not that either of them could see the sun. Dark clouds covered the sky, and snow flurries were beginning to float down, dotting their pelts.

"As much as I hate to say this, we might have to call it quits soon," Goldenmist hissed. "I'm freezing my paws off over here."

"Me too," Maplepaw said. "At least we can say we tried, though. I'm sure Deerdapple and Seedpelt will understand."

Just then, a fleck of red in the corner of Maplepaw's eye caught her attention. In the distance, she could see a drop of something red in the snow. As she approached, the strong scent of squirrel flooded her nostrils. She then noticed another droplet of blood, a few paw steps away. And then another, and another...

As she followed the trail of blood through the forest, she picked up a second scent. It was much heavier than the scent of squirrel and much muskier. She had smelled this scent once before, but she couldn't quite place it. The only thing she was certain of was the fact it wasn't a cat. But what could it be?

A scream erupted from somewhere behind her. Spinning around, Maplepaw saw that a large orange creature had grabbed Goldenmist by the neck, and was violently shaking her like a piece of prey. Drops of Goldenmist's blood dotted the snow as the creature (which Maplepaw had now realized was a fox) shook her. Goldenmist thrashed, trying to free herself, but it was useless.

"Let her go!" Maplepaw screeched, springing towards the fox. Unsheathing her claws, she raked it down the fox's snout as hard as she could.

The fox wrinkled its nose at her but refused to drop Goldenmist. Instead, it shook the golden tabby again, more violently this time. Goldenmist let out another screech of pain as she attempted to free herself once more.

Swallowing her fear, Maplepaw jumped onto the fox's back. She dug her claws in as deep as she could, and bite down on its neck.

The fox let out a yelp, dropping Goldenmist. It then turned its head towards Maplepaw, teeth bared. Grabbing her by the foreleg, the fox threw Maplepaw down into the snow, momentarily knocking her breath away.

As Maplepaw struggled to catch her breath, the fox stood over her. Saliva dripped from its jaws, down to Maplepaw's face. She cringed but didn't dare look away. She knew if she did, it would be the end of her. She didn't want to die now. She still hadn't made sure Goldenmist was alive.

As the fox went to make the killing move, Maplepaw rolled out of the way with a surge of adrenaline she didn't know she even had. The fox sat back, surprised. It clearly hadn't expected Maplepaw to escape so easily.

Maplepaw hissed at the fox, ready to fight once more if needed to. As she stood there, the burning pain in her foreleg became more apparent, and she could feel blood pooling out of the wound, down her leg, and over her paw. There was nothing she could do about that now. The fox still hadn't backed off. In fact, it looked more excited now.

The fox lunged at Maplepaw, who avoided the attack again. Spinning around, she raked her claws down the fox's shoulder, a guttural cry erupting from her lips as she did so. The fox recoiled from the attack and then leaped again. This time, the fox's teeth made contact with Maplepaw's tail. It yanked hard, causing Maplepaw to squeal with pain. Blood splattered the snow as the fox knocked Maplepaw off her paws.

It wasn't long before the fox stood over Maplepaw again, this time with a paw on her chest. Its claws dug into her skin, making her wince. There wasn't much she could do now. The fox was much heavier - much stronger - than she was. As she stared up into the fox's eyes, an idea flashed through her mind. She wasn't sure it would work, but it was her only option besides giving in.

Reaching up, Maplepaw dug her claws into the fox's eye. The fox immediately pulled back, but Maplepaw's claws were still attached. Blood welled around her claws as she sunk them deeper into the creature's eye. This would be a nasty wound for the fox to deal with. Finally, she released her grip and fell back into the snow.

The fox, exhausted and bloody, gave one final look at Maplepaw and raced away into the forest.

Maplepaw closed her eyes and laid there. It was snowing even harder now, but she didn't care. Her entire body was aching, and she could still feel the blood from her wounds trickling out onto the snow.

After what felt like an eternity, Maplepaw sat up. She looked around for Goldenmist but to no avail. Finally, she spotted a lump of golden fur underneath a clump of brambles. Maplepaw's heart stopped as she limped towards the figure. It was Goldenmist, no doubt about it. To Maplepaw's relief, she could see Goldenmist's flanks rising with faint breaths. She was alive! But it was apparent her wounds were bad. The snow was crimson with blood, and more trickled out.

Gulping, Maplepaw began looking for something to cover Goldenmist's wounds. She had seen Ravenwing use cobweb before to dress wounds, but where would she find that now? The only other solutions she could think of where leaves or moss, neither of which were available due to the snow unless she dug for them. That looked to be the only option now, and she wasn't even sure it would work.

Saying a quick prayer to StarClan, Maplepaw ran to the base of an old oak and began digging. Her paws strung from the cold as she dug through the snow, but she continued. Goldenmist's life was at risk.

Finally, she reached the bottom of the snow. Just as she had suspected, a scrap of moss was growing among the roots. It wasn't much, but it would suffice for now. She carefully pulled the moss up and made her way back to Goldenmist.

The golden tabby was much stiller now, her breaths nothing more than shallow gulps. Pressing the moss to her wound, Maplepaw began to whisper to her Clanmate, hoping to calm her. "I'm here with you," she meowed. "You're going to be fine."

Goldenmist's eyes opened to look up at Maplepaw. "The fox?" she moaned.

"It's gone. I fought it off," Maplepaw said.

Goldenmist's eyes then trailed down to Maplepaw's foreleg. "You're hurt," she observed.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about me. You need to relax," Maplepaw told her. By now, the moss had completely soaked through with blood. There wasn't enough time to go looking for more. Maplepaw's heart was racing as she contemplated what her next choice should be. There wasn't enough time to run back to camp, especially with her leg as bad as it was. Goldenmist would be long dead by then. And she wasn't sure she could carry Goldenmist back home herself.

Sitting back, Maplepaw let out a cry for help. She tried to disguise the anguish in her voice. She didn't want to worry Goldenmist. But it was hard. Maplepaw was terrified, and she knew that if help didn't arrive soon, she would be the only one to return home alive. Even if she got Goldenmist the help that she needed, there was no telling if she would survive through the night. Her wounds were bad, and it would take a miracle from StarClan to save her.

"Help! Please help us!" Maplepaw cried again.

Finally, the sound of paw steps sounded from somewhere in the distance. Maplepaw's heart raced as she stared through the forest, trying to see who was coming to her aid. Please don't be a fox. Please don't be a fox!

To her relief, it was a patrol made up of Birchface, Rowanfur, and Thrushtalon. The three warriors picked up the pace as soon as they took in the severity of the situation. Gently, Birchface and Thrushtalon picked Goldenmist up and began carrying her back to camp, while Rowanfur walked with Maplepaw.

She leaned against her father as the group of cats made their way back to camp.

"What happened?" Birchface demanded.

"Fox," Maplepaw croaked. "It grabbed Goldenmist by the neck, and wouldn't let go. It took me a while to fight it off."

"You mean, you fought it by yourself?" Rowanfur gasped.

Maplepaw nodded. "I tried to the best that I could. But it got me pretty good on my foreleg and tail. If it weren't for that, I could have chased it away faster. Maybe then I could have gotten to Goldenmist faster, and-"

"Maplepaw, you did incredibly well. Don't blame yourself," Thrushtalon spoke up. "Foxes are tricky to fight, especially by yourself. You should be proud of yourself."

She ducked her head, unwilling to meet anyone's gaze. She didn't feel proud, not in the slightest. It had only been luck she had escaped. And now, Goldenmist was bleeding out in front of her, on the brink of death. Not to mention, they hadn't managed to catch any prey.

"Where's Deerdapple and Seedpelt?" she wondered.

"They made it back to camp already," Rowanfur meowed. "They're the ones who sent us out in search of you two."

"Good. I was worried for a moment maybe the fox had gone to attack them too," Maplepaw said.

"From the sound of it, I think that fox had learned to stay away from cats," Rowanfur laughed. When Maplepaw didn't join in, he pressed his muzzle against hers. "I'm so glad you're all right. I don't know what I'd do if something had happened to you. You're the light of my life."

A faint purr rose in Maplepaw's throat. "I love you too."

Goldenmist was still alive by the time the patrol had reached camp, but only just. Ravenwing, who had been sitting underneath the Highrock with Oakstar, sprang to his paws upon their arrival.

"Take them to my den, immediately!" he commanded.

By now, everyone in ThunderClan had emerged from their dens and was standing in the clearing. Their eyes were wide with shock, fear, and sadness.

"What in StarClan's name has happened here?" Oakstar meowed, pushing his way through the crowd.

"Fox attack," Rowanfur explained. "Maplepaw fought it off all by herself."

A gasp of surprise traveled through the crowd.

"Is that so?" Oakstar asked.

Maplepaw nodded weakly.

Before Oakstar could say anything else, Ravenwing slipped out of his den and glared at the group of surrounding cats. "Everyone, go back to your dens! I don't need you lot crowded around like a bunch of buzzards. You can come see them when I'm finished." Turning to Maplepaw, he beckoned her forward with his tail. "Come here, now. You need to have those wounds dressed."

Limping forward, Maplepaw followed Ravenwing into his den. Goldenmist was sprawled out in a nest at the back of the den, cobwebs draped over her neck wound. Maplepaw could see flecks of blood seeping through the dressing already. Ravenwing didn't seem fazed, though. He pulled the cobwebs back, dabbing more ointment onto them. He then placed a wad of fresh cobwebs back over the wound.

"You're fast," Maplepaw observed.

"Years and years of practice," Ravenwing snorted.

"Do you ever regret it?"

The black medicine cat shook his head. "I always knew this was the path I wanted to take. Here, give me your tail."

Maplepaw flicked her tail up, allowing Ravenwing to get a closer look at it. He then applied an ointment to it, which made her wince with pain. Once he was done tending to her tail, Ravenwing turned his focus to Maplepaw's foreleg.

"Have you ever seen wounds like this before?" Maplepaw asked, hoping it wasn't a dumb question.

Ravenwing nodded. "A couple of times. Foxes get desperate in the winter, so it isn't uncommon for them to turn to attacking cats."

Maplepaw's eyes widened. "I guess I'm lucky then..." She directed her attention back to Goldenmist. "Will she survive?"

"I don't know yet."

Her heart sank. "Oh."

Once Ravenwing was done dressing her wounds, he nudged her towards the entrance to his den. "I need to speak with Oakstar and Dovesong. Come back tonight, and I'll change your dressings. Until then, take it easy. You're not to leave camp for the next week. Do you understand?" Ravenwing instructed.

Maplepaw nodded, slipping out of his den. She nodded her head to Oakstar and Dovesong, who were sitting close by. Dovesong shot Maplepaw a thankful look and darted into the medicine cat's den, her mate at her side.

"What did Ravenwing say?" Birchface demanded, making his way towards Maplepaw.

"Nothing really," Maplepaw said.

"He doesn't know if she's going to live?"

Maplepaw shook her head.

Birchface let out a string of curses. Sighing, he lifted his gaze to meet Maplepaw's. "Thank you, anyways," he meowed.

"Why are you thanking me? I didn't-"

"Stop it," Birchface interrupted. "You heard what Thrushtalon said earlier. Foxes are tricky to fight. What you did today was amazing. Without you, my sister would be dead."

"I don't feel amazing at all."

"Well, you are. And I'm sure every cat in ThunderClan is going to stop and tell you the same. You did something a patrol of warriors has trouble with, all by yourself. You're lucky to be alive. I'm sure my sister is grateful."

Maplepaw just stared at him. She couldn't understand why everyone was treating her like some sort of hero when Goldenmist was still bleeding out in Ravenwing's den. As she stood there, she could hear another cat walking up from behind. It was Oakstar.

"I'm proud of you," Oakstar praised, draping his tail over Maplepaw's shoulders. "What you did today was outstanding. I've already spoken to Bloomheart, and he thinks you're ready to become a warrior."

Maplepaw's eyes widened. "You can't be serious?"

Oakstar nodded. "Of course!"

Birchface frowned. "You don't sound very excited," he meowed.

"She's in shock," Oakstar whispered to his son. "It's been a long day for her. Once she gets a good night's sleep, I'm sure she will feel better about this whole situation."

"Come on, then." Birchface nudged Maplepaw in the direction of the apprentice's den.

She trudged after him wordlessly. Once they were in the safety of the den, Maplepaw flopped down in her nest and sighed. It was at that moment she realized how horrible she felt. Her entire body was aching, not just from the battle, but from the cold as well. Her claws still stung from where she had dug through the snow looking for moss. She would have to talk to Ravenwing about that later.

"I know you don't feel like you did anything today, but you did," Birchface whispered, pressing his muzzle to her ear. "Now get some sleep, before Hazelheart and Dawnpaw get back to camp. I'm sure they'll be panicked when they learn what happened today."

Maplepaw let out a faint laugh. "That's just like them."

"It's only because they love you," Birchface purred. "I can't say I blame them."

Chapter Text

Chapter Seven

The air was crisp when Maplepaw woke up the next morning. Taking a deep breath, she walked out into the camp clearing. She was the first one awake, just as she had expected. Excluding the one time she had woken up to go visit Ravenwing, she had slept through the night.

Sitting there, her mind drifted to Goldenmist. Her paws itched to visit her friend in the medicine cat's den, but she thought against it. She didn't want to disturb her, or worse - find out that her friend had passed away during the night. Please let Goldenmist live, Maplepaw prayed to StarClan. If they had kept her alive so far, perhaps they really would save her life. Maplepaw could only hope that would be the case.

One by one, other ThunderClan cats began to wake. Maplepaw could see Rabbitfur sitting by himself just outside the elder's den, while Whitefoot and Sweetbriar sorted through the remains of last night's fresh kill.

Then, she saw Bloomheart heading towards her. Her mentor had a proud smile on his face. "Good morning," he mewed.

Maplepaw dipped her head to him.

"I'm very proud of you," Bloomheart began. "I'm sure you know that already, though. And I'm sure Oakstar spoke with you about your warrior ceremony, correct?"

"Yes. Do you know what time it will be held?"

"I'm afraid I don't. I'm guessing Oakstar will leave it up to you. That's what he did with me, after all." 

As Maplepaw stared at him, she realized this was the last conversation she would be having with him as mentor and apprentice. It made her sad to think about. “Thank you for being my mentor,” she told him.

“And thank you for being such a good apprentice,” Bloomheart meowed.

Maplepaw’s eyes widened. “You really think I was?”

“Most of the time," Bloomheart said. "Although you could be a real pain in the tail sometimes! You tend to act without thinking."

The fur on the back of her neck bristled with embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” she apologized.

Bloomheart rested his tail on her shoulders. “Don’t be hard on yourself. You’ll get the hang of it eventually,” he promised.

Just then, Oakstar walked out of his den. His attention quickly turned to Maplepaw, before making his way over to her. “Good morning,” the ThunderClan leader greeted, his head held high. “Are you ready for your warrior ceremony?”

Maplepaw exchanged a look with Bloomheart and then nodded. “I am,” she said.

Oakstar let out a purr. “Excellent.” With a mighty leap, Oakstar climbed to the top of the Highrock and called out to the Clan.

It was at that moment Maplepaw realized how shabby she looked. She had never bothered to groom herself after her fight with the fox, leaving dried blood caked into her ruffled fur. “I look dreadful,” she groaned to herself.

“Don’t worry. No one will judge you,” Bloomheart assured her. 

Just then, Hazelheart, Rowanfur, and Dawnpaw came to sit by Maplepaw. 

“I’m so happy for you,” Dawnpaw meowed, covering Maplepaw’s ears in a series of excited licks.

Maplepaw smiled. “Thank you. It’s too bad you won’t be getting your warrior name with me,” she said. 

Dawnpaw shrugged. “I don’t mind. My day will come soon enough. For now, I want to enjoy yours.”

Before Maplepaw could respond, Oakstar began speaking again, “As you all know, Maplepaw saved my daughter’s life yesterday, when she managed to chase off a fox all by herself.” Oakstar leaped down from the Highrock and came to stand before Maplepaw. “You are a hero, Maplepaw. And for that reason, you are worthy of your warrior name.”

As Oakstar spoke, Maplepaw could feel the entire Clan’s gaze burning into her pelt, making her grow uncomfortable. She silently begged Oakstar to hurry up and finish the ceremony, but the ThunderClan leader continued to talk, going on and on about the future of ThunderClan and all that every cat meant to him.

Finally, he paused, his attention turning back to Maplepaw. “Maplepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?” he asked.

Maplepaw looked up. “Of course,” she vowed.

“Then from this moment forward, you shall be known as Mapleshade. StarClan welcomes you as a full warrior of ThunderClan,” Oakstar said.

“Mapleshade! Mapleshade! Mapleshade!” the warriors of ThunderClan yowled, causing Mapleshade even more embarrassment.

“Congratulations, Mapleshade,” Hazelheart purred, emphasizing her daughter’s new name. 

“What do you think of it?” Dawnpaw asked.

Mapleshade hesitated. She still couldn’t believe this moment was real. She was really a warrior. Mapleshade, she thought to herself, a grin forming. I am Mapleshade. “I love it,” she told Dawnpaw. 

“So do I. It really suits you,” Dawnpaw meowed.

As more cats came to congratulate her, Mapleshade felt weary. She was still exhausted from yesterday. But she would have to suffer through it. After all, she had to hold vigil tonight. It was a tradition going back for generations, and she wasn’t about to spend her first day as a warrior breaking the rules. 

As if her mother could read her mind, Hazelheart nudged her towards the apprentice’s den. “Come on, back to your nest,” she urged. “You’re about to fall over on your paws.”

“I can’t,” Mapleshade shook her head. 

“Forgot the vigil,” Hazelheart meowed. “You’re hurt, and you need rest. No one will judge you for skipping.”

Mapleshade opened her mouth to protest but quickly shut it. She knew her mother was right. It wasn’t even sun high yet, and she was already exhausted. There was no way she would be able to stay awake all day and night in this condition. 

“We would have made you a nest in the warrior's den, but Ravenwing advised against it. He said it would be best for you to continue sleeping in here until your injuries heal,” Hazelheart told her as Mapleshade curled up in her nest.

Mapleshade yawned. “That’s fine. I don’t mind.”

“Are you sure? Because I don’t want you to think-“

“Really, I’m fine with it,” Mapleshade interrupted. 

Hazelheart let out a breath. She then leaned down to touch her nose to the top of Mapleshade’s head. “Get some more rest. And remember, I’m proud of you,” she meowed.

Mapleshade let out a faint purr. “Thank you,” she whispered. Her eyelids were growing heavy now, and she knew she would not be able to stay awake much longer. She stared after her mother as she walked out of the den, before falling asleep.

As she slept, she had dreams of nothing in particular. The river, trees, prey: it all flashed through her mind in a disjointed fashion. But throughout it all, she heard the continuous sound of screams. 

Mapleshade brushed it off at first, thinking it was nothing more than a bird somewhere deep in the forest.

But the screams came again.

And again.

They were getting louder now, so loud she could barely stand it. They were cries of pain and anger, coming from several different sources all around her.

Mapleshade’s eyes opened. She was awake now. And it was at that moment she realized those screams hadn’t been a part of her dream. They were real.

ThunderClan was under attack. 

Chapter Text

Chapter Eight

Mapleshade watched in horror as ThunderClan's camp was overrun by RiverClan warriors. There were so many of them. They must have been there for a while, too, she realized, as she took note of all the blood and fur that dotted the camp. It made her stomach curl.

Mapleshade limped forward, adrenaline coursing through her. Despite that, her body ached. It had only been a day since the fox attack. Her wounds hadn't healed yet.

She scanned the clearing. Maybe she could pick off one of the little ones? She knew Ravenwing would give her an earful later regardless of who she fought, but for right now, she didn't care. Finally, she spotted a little white she-cat. She was grappling with Whitefoot.

Mapleshade walked forward, claws out. She lashed out, her claws barely making contact with the RiverClan warrior's shoulder. Mouse-dung, Mapleshade cursed. That was pathetic! The white she-cat froze and turned to glare at Mapleshade.

"Is that the best you can do?" the she-cat sneered.

The fur on the back of Mapleshade's neck began to bristle. She opened her mouth, ready to reply, but Whitefoot interrupted her.

"Mapleshade, what are you doing out here? You're hurt! You need to go back to your nest immediately." Whitefoot's blue eyes were wide, panicked. And as Mapleshade stared at her closely, she realized her Clanmate had a trickle of blood coming from her left ear. Her shoulder was also badly injured.

"So are you," Mapleshade pointed out.

"ThunderClan's mighty warriors, bested by a few scratches. Pathetic," the RiverClan warrior remarked. Before anyone could react, the white she-cat sprung at Mapleshade, knocking her down.

Mapleshade let out a yelp as she landed on her tail. She could feel the skin around her wounds ripping back open. Ravenwing would definitely be angry with her now. But it was too late to think about that.

She twisted her head, staring straight ahead at the white she-cat that loomed over her. She tried to shove her off, but her good leg was being held down. The RiverClan warrior leaned down, giving a bite to Mapleshade's ear. Mapleshade shrieked, trying to push her off again.

The two warriors continued to tussle. Mapleshade had finally managed to kick the RiverClan warrior off of her, giving her enough time to scramble to her paws. She limped away, her foreleg burning. She must have reopened the wound there too. And she could feel blood running down the side of her face, presumably from the bite she had gotten on her ear.

Immense shame filled Mapleshade as she limped towards the edge of camp. She wanted to continue the fight, but her entire body screamed at her to stop and rest. Closing her eyes, she laid down on the ground, breathing hard. How was it that she had managed to fight a fox by herself, but this proved too much for her?

The screams continued to fill the camp, causing Mapleshade's heart to wrench every time. She tried to tell herself that it was just the sound of RiverClan's warriors being beaten, but the screams sounded all too familiar. She had grown up around these cats for her entire life. It was impossible to mistake their voices as they cried out. She could hear Seedpelt's cries from across the camp, and Beetail's yowls.

Mapleshade swallowed, trying to push the sounds out of her head. She couldn't focus on that right now. She needed to focus on catching her breath and heading back to the fight as soon as possible.

Eventually, the cries became too much for her, and she staggered to her paws. She limped forward, her eyes scanning the clearing as she went. She tried to see if any of her Clanmates needed help.

She then caught sight of something from the top of Highrock. There, Oakstar and Darkstar were battling it out. The RiverClan leader lashed out at Oakstar, forcing him backward. Mapleshade froze. Oakstar was dangerously near the edge. If he took another step back, he would be sent over the edge.

If Oakstar knew this, he didn't let on about it. He continued to fight the RiverClan leader with a calm air to him as if this was nothing more than a play fight. Darkstar was growing increasingly frustrated by this. She continued to lash out, trying to force Oakstar backward, but the ThunderClan leader held his ground.

Suddenly, Darkstar lashed downwards, her paws hooking behind Oakstar's legs. He stumbled, falling backward.

Mapleshade let out a scream. Her heart pounded furiously in her chest as she watched her leader, dangling from the edge of the Highrock. He had fortunately managed to grab the side but was barely hanging on.

Oakstar's jaw clenched as he tried to pull himself upwards. He stared up at the RiverClan leader, his expression unreadable. Darkstar looked down at him, triumphantly. She opened her mouth to say something when another figure appeared behind her. Before any cat could react, the warrior leaped onto Darkstar's back, sending her flying over the edge of the Highrock. As they fell, they bumped into Oakstar, causing him to fall alongside them.

The three cats hit the ground with a thud, and the clearing went silent.

Mapleshade stood there, heart pounding. She stared ahead, trying to process what had just happened. Cautiously, she limped forward a few paces. She stared at Oakstar's flanks, trying to see if he was still breathing.

Nothing.

The ThunderClan leader lay there, completely still. His eyes were open, unblinking, an uncomfortable glaze covering them, and his jaw was slack.

Mapleshade's throat tightened at the sight. Was he dead? Oakstar was still young. He couldn't be dead. Not yet.

She then glanced towards the other two bodies that lay there. Darkstar laid crumpled on the ground, her back facing Mapleshade. Inches from her laid Dovesong. Her neck was twisted at an unnatural angle. Mapleshade knew immediately that she was dead. There was simply no way for a regular warrior to survive such an injury.

Mapleshade's heart twisted. Of course, Dovesong had sacrificed herself in an attempt to save Oakstar. He was her mate. And although Mapleshade wasn't particularly close with either of them, she had known how much they had loved one another.

A flash of brown fur in the corner of her eye caught Mapleshade's attention. She turned, the pain in her chest increasing as she saw Birchface standing there. There was a deep gash on his forehead that trickled blood, and several scratches along his left shoulder. But that was nothing compared to the look of agony on the young warrior's face.

He walked towards his parents' bodies, whispering something that Mapleshade couldn't make out. For a moment, she contemplated following after him, but she decided against it. It was too soon.

The next cat to move was Beetail.

He limped forward, eyes wide. He opened and closed his mouth several times, struggling to speak. Finally, the words came out, low and shaky. "Oakstar?"

"She's dead," Birchface whispered, ignoring Beetail's presence. "My mother is dead." He stood directly over Dovesong's body now, his paw extended. He placed it against her shoulder, shaking her. When she didn't respond, he rolled her onto her other side, flinching as her head lolled back.

"Birchface, I-I'm so sorry," Beetail meowed, trying to comfort him.

Birchface didn't respond. He just stared down at Dovesong's face, his eyes glistening. He continued to whisper to himself, stroking his mother's fur with his paw. He then walked over to where his father laid.

It was at this point that Spiketail, RiverClan's deputy, finally decided to come forward. The gray tabby's face was unreadable as he limped towards the Highrock. Before he could get close enough, Birchface launched himself at the RiverClan warrior, knocking him back.

The two cats tussled on the ground for a couple of seconds, before Birchface was pulled off by Seedpelt and Thrushtalon.

"Get out," Birchface snarled, the back of his fur bristling. "Now."

Spiketail's tail lashed, but he said nothing. He scurried past Birchface to where Darkstar's body laid. A few more RiverClan warrior's followed after him, and together they hoisted Darkstar's body up onto Spiketail's back. The RiverClan deputy staggered for a moment under the weight of his leader, before walking out of camp.

One by one, the rest of RiverClan's warriors followed him.

Mapleshade tensed as she spotted Applepaw limping towards the camp entrance, Reedpaw at his side. They were among the last few cats to leave. Applepaw paused, his gaze meeting hers for a split second before Reedpaw shoved him through the gorse entrance.

"Are you okay?"

Mapleshade jumped. She turned to see Dawnpaw standing there. Her sister's eyes were wide and unblinking. She stared at Mapleshade for a second, and then back at Oakstar and Dovesong, a shiver running down her spine.

Mapleshade pressed against her, hoping to give her sister some reassurance. "I'm fine," she meowed.

Dawnpaw nodded, although she did not reply. She closed her eyes, and pressed into Mapleshade harder, her face burying into her sister's shoulder.

Mapleshade rested her head on top of Dawnpaw's and gave her a small lick. It was a small action that Hazelheart had always done to comfort them, back when they were kits. Mapleshade wondered if Dawnpaw was thinking of this too, but she did not dare ask. It would be too inappropriate to reminisce on the days of their kittenhood, when one of their Clanmates lay dead, lengths away from them.

"Do you think Oakstar is dead?" Dawnpaw finally asked.

"I don't know," Mapleshade said.

"Oakstar should have six lives left," Whitefoot meowed, overhearing their conversation. "Surely that fall wasn't enough to claim all of them…"

"Oh, StarClan, help us!" Rabbitfur began to wail. "Please bring our leader back to us."

"Someone needs to get Ravenwing, now," one cat meowed.

"Rowanfur's already gone to fetch him. He should be here any moment," another cat responded.

Mapleshade pulled away from Dawnpaw and looked over to the medicine cat's den. Ravenwing slipped out of his den like a shadow, Rowanfur flanking him. Both cats had a bundle of herbs in their jaws.

Ravenwing gave her a stern look as he walked past, but said nothing. He continued forward until he stood beside Oakstar. Setting the herbs down, Ravenwing rested his paws against Oakstar's chest, trying to find a heartbeat. From the look on his face, Mapleshade could tell he was unsuccessful. He then bent down and placed his ear against the ThunderClan leader's chest. Still nothing.

"He's lost another life," Ravenwing announced solemnly.

"Do you think he's going to be okay?" Beetail asked.

"I think so, but all we can do is wait. His injuries are serious. It will take StarClan some time to heal him," Ravenwing meowed.

"What's wrong with him?"

Ravenwing let out a sigh. "His back leg is broken, as are several of his ribs. Fortunately, he didn't break his neck." Ravenwing looked over to Dovesong's body as he spoke. "We're lucky his injuries were not worse."

"What about Darkstar? Do you think she's dead?" Beetail wondered.

"I hope so," Birchface growled. "It's what she deserves."

Ravenwing frowned. "I'm afraid that's something only StarClan – and RiverClan – knows."

"If she isn't dead after tonight, she will be soon," Birchface meowed. "I'm going to get back at her for what she's done. Mark my words."

"Enough," Beetail shushed.

"No. This isn't 'enough'! My mother is dead because of her, and possibly my father as well. That slimy fox-heart deserves to pay for this!" Birchface argued. The fur on the back of his neck was bristling once again, and for a moment Mapleshade thought he was going to attack Beetail.

Ravenwing stepped in front of Birchface, flashing him a warning. He then bent down and grabbed a couple of poppy seeds, pushing them towards Birchface. "Eat these," Ravenwing commanded.

Birchface lashed his tail a couple of times. He then leaned down in compliance and ate the seeds. He remained crouched for several moments, his eyes closed.

Mapleshade watched him closely. She wondered what was going through his mind, besides the obvious grief she knew he felt. Her paws itched for her to walk over there and comfort him, but she couldn't bring herself to move just yet. Although they were friends, there was a part of her that feared he would lash out if she attempted to.

Birchface finally stood up. As soon as he did this, Mapleshade used it as her opportunity to approach him. Her new wounds began to sting as she walked, but she tried to push her pain to the back of her head. Birchface needed her.

"Birchface," she called softly, her fur brushing against his ever so slightly. "I'm sorry."

Birchface turned, his eyes glistening. He did not say anything though. His face angled back towards his parent's bodies.

"Come lay down for a minute," Mapleshade meowed.

"I can't leave them," Birchface mumbled.

"It will just be for a minute," Mapleshade promised him.

"Go with her," Beetail urged. He shot Mapleshade a thankful look as he spoke.

Birchface hesitated. He then turned and began to walk with Mapleshade towards the apprentice's den. Since it was just her and Dawnpaw in there at the moment, Mapleshade figured it would be best for Birchface to lay down there, away from everyone else.

"Have you forgotten I'm a warrior now?" Birchface asked a slight hint of playfulness to his tone.

"Of course not," Mapleshade replied. "I just thought it would be more peaceful for you here."

Birchface didn't say anything. The slight playfulness he had carried mere seconds ago had now vanished like morning dew. He stood in the entranceway of the den, staring inside. Mapleshade nudged him forward, forcing him to go in.

Birchface laid directly on the ground, not bothering to curl up in one of the nests that were already there.

"You can lay in my nest if you'd like," Mapleshade offered, but Birchface ignored her.

He stared at the wall, silently. Although he did not speak, Mapleshade could tell what was on his mind. She wished that she could say something to him that would make him feel better, but she knew nothing she said would take the pain he felt away.

"Oakstar will be alright," Mapleshade finally meowed, her voice trembling.

"Physically, yes. Emotionally, no."

Mapleshade didn't know how to respond to that.

But Birchface continued. "He's never going to get over this, Mapleshade. And to make things worse, Goldenmist is on the verge of death as well."

"I'm so sorry, Birchface," Mapleshade whispered.

"Why are you apologizing? It wasn't you that did this. It was those RiverClan fox-hearts," Birchface snapped. The fur along his neck and spine were bristling again, and his teeth were bared.

Mapleshade flinched, causing Birchface to soften. "I'm sorry," he apologized.

"You're upset. You don't mean it," Mapleshade meowed. She glanced over her shoulder, staring out into the camp clearing. "You should get some rest. I promise I'll come wake you up as soon as Oakstar wakes up."

Birchface nodded.

Mapleshade slipped back out of the den and hobbled back across the clearing. The pain in her foreleg had intensified, causing her to grimace, but she continued regardless. She wasn't sure what exactly she was looking to do, but she couldn't bring herself to sit still just yet.

"Mapleshade," Ravenwing called out to her.

Mapleshade lifted her head and looked over to where his voice had come from. The black medicine cat was sitting beside Thrushtalon, wrapping his tail in cobwebs. Once he was done, Ravenwing beckoned Mapleshade over to him.

"Your foreleg is bleeding," Ravenwing observed.

"I know."

"You shouldn't have fought," Ravenwing scolded. "It's only been a day since the fox attack. Your leg could get infected, and then you're really going to have a problem." He grabbed some cobwebs, and began to dab at the blood, wiping it away from her skin.

Mapleshade winced as Ravenwing began to apply a poultice to her leg. "I know. But I couldn't just sit back and watch as we were invaded!"

Ravenwing flicked an ear. He continued to work on her leg, before moving on to the rest of her wounds.

"How is Goldenmist?" Mapleshade asked, changing the subject.

"She's still in critical condition, but I think she's improving slightly," Ravenwing meowed.

"Does she know about…" Mapleshade trailed off. She couldn't bring herself to say the words out loud.

"About Dovesong? I pray to StarClan that she doesn't," Ravenwing sighed. "News like that won't do her any favors in the state she's in."

"Birchface said Oakstar isn't going to take it well when he wakes up," Mapleshade told him.

Ravenwing frowned. "No, he isn't."

Mapleshade looked over to where Oakstar's body lay. It hadn't moved once since falling from the cliff, although someone had closed his eyes. Several warriors sat nearby, their heads hung as they grieved for their leader and his mate. As Mapleshade watched, she began to grow paranoid that Oakstar would never wake up. It had been so long. Why hadn't he woken yet?

"Are you sure he's going to be alright?" Mapleshade asked, turning back to Ravenwing, who was applying the last of his poultice to her tail.

"Yes," Ravenwing meowed.

"Then why hasn't he woken up yet? Surely it doesn't take this long…"

"Most of the time it doesn't," Ravenwing said. "But as I said earlier, his wounds are serious. It must be taking StarClan a long time to heal them."

A thought crossed Mapleshade's mind. "Is it possible StarClan is sharing tongues with him, and that's why it's taking so long?"

"I can't tell you that," Ravenwing said sharply. He then stood up and moved on to his next patient.

Mapleshade watched him go, a disappointed look on her face. Was something like that really so confidential that he couldn't even answer her question? She tried not to let it bother her though. After all, it had been a long night.

Glancing at the sky, Mapleshade could see a tinge of pink on the horizon. It was almost sunrise. Upon this realization, a wave of fatigue washed over her.

She decided to pay her final respects to Dovesong before she headed off to bed, as this would be the final time she would ever get to see her fallen Clanmate.

Dovesong's body had been moved to the edge of the camp, her body repositioned to look as though she were sleeping. If Mapleshade hadn't watched her fall to her death, she would have been convinced that her Clanmate was simply taking a nap. But Mapleshade knew otherwise.

"I'm sorry," Mapleshade breathed, leaning down to press her nose into Dovesong's fur. It was cold and carried an unfamiliar scent that made Mapleshade uncomfortable.

She whispered a few more things into Dovesong's fur, before taking a step back. Yawning once more, Mapleshade hobbled across the clearing, towards her den.

As she passed Oakstar, she paused. She wondered for a moment if she should share tongues with him as well, in case Ravenwing was wrong, and he was really dead. But just as that thought had crossed her mind, Oakstar's eyes opened, and he sat up.

Chapter Text

Chapter Nine

Oakstar sat there blinking for several moments. He then stumbled to his paws. Beetail was at his side immediately, pressing against his side to help keep his balance. He began to whisper to Oakstar in a soothing tone, before calling out to Ravenwing.

Ravenwing dropped what he was doing, and hurried to Oakstar's side at once. "Lay back down," he ordered.

Oakstar nodded, still in a daze. He lowered himself back onto the ground, wincing as he did so. Ravenwing began to look over him, meowing something as he poked and prodded the leader.

As all this was going on, Mapleshade limped towards the apprentice's den as fast as she could. Bursting into the den, she saw that Birchface was fast asleep exactly where she had left him. Although she felt bad for waking him, she had promised to do so as soon as Oakstar woke up. "Birchface," she hissed, nudging his shoulder.

Birchface lifted his head. Mapleshade didn't have to say another word as he bolted from the den, ready to see his father.

Mapleshade followed after him. Although her body was screaming at her to get some rest, she couldn't bring herself to sleep yet. She was still worried about Birchface and Oakstar. If she tried to sleep now, nothing would come of it. She would toss and turn, her mind tormenting her unless she put her worries to rest.

Birchface now stood beside his father. He was speaking to Oakstar in a low, yet excited, tone. Mapleshade could only guess he was telling his father how glad he was that he was alive. Yet, Oakstar didn't respond. He stared down at the ground, occasionally grimacing as Ravenwing attended to him.

"I saw her in StarClan," Oakstar finally meowed. "Your mother."

Birchface frowned. "I know."

"She died trying to save me, and yet it was all for nothing."

"It wasn't for nothing," Birchface argued, although Mapleshade could tell he didn't completely believe what he was saying. Oakstar had still lost a life.

Oakstar flicked an ear. "It was," he insisted. "I lost three lives."

"Three?" This time it was Ravenwing who spoke up. The fur on the back of his neck began to bristle in alarm as if he didn't believe what he had heard. "You can't be serious!"

"I'm afraid so," Oakstar sighed. "One from the fall, the others for each of my broken bones."

Ravenwing lashed his tail. He opened his mouth, ready to curse StarClan, but he thought against it. Clamping his jaw shut, the medicine cat continued to tend to Oakstar. Every so often he would chime in to add to something Birchface had said, but other than that he was silent.

When he had finished, he nudged Oakstar to his paws. Together, he and Birchface led the ThunderClan leader into his den.

Mapleshade was about ready to head back to her nest to try and sleep when Ravenwing appeared.

"Is he going to be alright?" she wondered again for the third time that night.

"Yes. But you won't be if you keep lingering around here. Go to sleep," Ravenwing ordered.

Mapleshade flicked her tail, annoyed at his tone, but she did not argue with him.

Inside the apprentice's den, Dawnpaw was already curled up in her nest, fast asleep. Mapleshade realized she must have come to lay down right after she had woken up Birchface. Either that or she was so tired she hadn't even noticed her there to begin with.

Mapleshade circled her nest a couple of times and then laid down.

"I hate this time of year," Seedpelt grumbled, shaking mud from his paws.

It had been two moons since the battle, and leafbare was coming to a close. The snow had melted, leaving the forest floor wet and muddy. Despite this, it was still too early for the prey to return, or the undergrowth to start sprouting. This caused ThunderClan's territory to look like a muddy, dead patch of forest.

"You'll miss this weather come greenleaf," Deerdapple meowed, pausing to sniff the air. She then frowned, not finding a single scent.

"I know that's right," Whitefoot added in agreement.

Mapleshade nodded. She had only been a kit during the last greenleaf, but she could remember how warm it had gotten. It was unbearable, almost. She was thankful that come that time this year she would have the protection of the trees to shade her.

"I can't smell anything," Dawnpaw, now Dawnfeather, sighed.

Mapleshade let out a slight purr as she recalled her sister's warrior ceremony. It had taken place a few days after the battle. Since Oakstar hadn't been well enough, Beetail had carried out the ceremony. Mapleshade had watched joyously, being the first to call out her sister's new name. From there, they had sat vigil together, out of Mapleshade's offering.

"I can't smell anything either," Mapleshade meowed. "Just mud and wet leaves."

"Maybe we should try hunting by the river?" Whitefoot suggested.

"Good idea. We might be able to find some prey hanging around Sunningrocks," Deerdapple said.

Mapleshade swallowed. She hadn't gone near the river since before the battle. She had been avoiding it in case any of RiverClan's warriors were hanging about. She wasn't ready to run into them again. She was angry at them for what they had done.

And based on reports of the last two Gatherings, RiverClan was just as furious.

Although they were too proud to let on the extent of Darkstar's injuries, it was clear the RiverClan leader had lost a life. According to those who had attended the last few Gatherings (Mapleshade had declined to go) Darkstar seemed more wary than usual.

Despite this, she had tried to pass off her attack on ThunderClan as a success, bragging about Dovesong's death as she spoke.

That hadn't gone over well.

The next morning, a skirmish at the border led by Birchface had occurred. The fight got broken up by a passing patrol before any cat could get injured, but the damage was already done.

Mapleshade eyed Birchface now. He was at the front of the group, his back turned towards her as he walked through the forest.

He was so much different now.

Mapleshade sighed. She had tried to tell herself that Birchface was grieving and that he would get over it soon. But as time went on, he only seemed to grow angrier and angrier. He was much quieter, too.

Whenever Mapleshade (or any cat, really) spoke to him, he was very curt in his responses, as if he didn't care what they had to say. It had hurt her, as she had always considered Birchface to be one of her closest friends. Now he seemed to be nothing more than a stranger.

Up ahead, Mapleshade could see the river. The sun reflected off the water, causing it to glimmer as it floated by. A group of ducks walked along the opposite shore. They took flight once the ThunderClan warriors appeared.

Mapleshade watched them fly away, slightly resentful of them. Their lives were so simple. They didn't have to worry about anything.

She sighed and turned her attention back to her Clanmates. Seedpelt and Deerdapple were heading towards Sunningrocks in search of prey. She considered following them but decided against it. Too many cats in one area would scare any available prey away.

She decided to walk along the shore, thinking she would be able to find something there, like a little mouse stopping to take a drink or even a frog.

Mapleshade shuddered.

It wasn't common for ThunderClan to eat frogs, but prey was prey.

As she continued down the shoreline, she could hear Seedpelt and Deerdapple meowing excitedly as they managed to catch something. Vole, it sounded like. Two of them, to be exact.

The further Mapleshade walked, the more frustrated she was beginning to feel. Where was all the prey? Surely a little snowmelt wasn't enough to chase it all away. Yet, as she tasted the air, she was met with the stale scent of mud and water.

She considered turning around and heading back to her Clanmates, suggesting they try hunting elsewhere. Perhaps the voles Seedpelt and Deerdapple had caught would be all the river had to offer.

She then froze. The scent of wood pigeon filled her nostrils. She tasted the air again to make sure her senses weren't playing tricks on her. Yes, it was fresh. And close by, too.

Mapleshade looked around. She finally spotted the bird perched on a low-hanging branch, preening itself. And by the look of it, it was plump too. It would make for an excellent meal if she was able to catch it.

Mapleshade pressed herself to the ground, wincing as her belly fur brushed against the mud. She began to slink forward, her eyes locked on the bird. It had no idea she was there.

Mapleshade took another step forward, when -!

She let out a yelp as her leg sank shoulder-deep into some mud.

Mapleshade let out a string of curses as she tried to pull herself free. She had been so caught up in trying to catch the bird that she hadn't even noticed how muddy the ground under paw had gotten.

As she tried to free herself, Mapleshade could feel her other legs begin to slide forward into the mud. She continued to wriggle, hoping to escape, but she only found herself getting pulled deeper and deeper. The pigeon was long forgotten about.

"Stop!"

Mapleshade looked up, her eyes narrowing as Applepaw came into view. Great. Of all cats to run into her while she was stuck in this embarrassing predicament, it had to be him.

She looked him over. He had grown larger since she had seen him last, his muscles rippling under his sleek brown coat. She guessed he was fully grown now.

"What are you doing here?" Mapleshade hissed, squirming some more.

"Stop moving," Applepaw ordered. "You'll only sink deeper."

Mapleshade froze. Her heart was beating rapidly at this point. She stared at Applepaw, wondering what it was exactly he planned on doing. If he even planned to do anything at all. Perhaps he had come to laugh at her as she was swallowed by the mud, suffocating to death. She wouldn't put that past someone like him, especially after what his Clan had done months prior. All RiverClan cats were the same as far as Mapleshade was concerned.

"I don't need your help," Mapleshade snapped.

"Really? Because to me, it looks like you're about to be swallowed up by quicksand."

Quicksand? Was that what this weird mud was? It didn't matter right now. She just needed to get free. She began to squirm some more, only to give up a couple of seconds later. Applepaw was right. She was sinking deeper.

"Alright, fine. Just hurry up and get me out of here," Mapleshade told him.

Applepaw was already one step ahead of her. He grabbed a large stick that laid nearby and held it out to her.

Mapleshade bit down on the stick, while Applepaw held the other. He took a step back, tugging on the stick.

At first, nothing happened.

Mapleshade began to grow more panicked. What if she never escaped? She wondered how long it would take to die like this. Would it be as quick as drowning in water, or would it be long and drawn out?

Finally, she felt her limbs being pulled free of the mud. She collapsed onto solid ground, panting heavily. "Thank you," she meowed, her pelt pricking with embarrassment.

She waited, expecting him to start laughing at her for being such an idiot. But he never did. Instead, he gave her a gentle look, as though he was glad she was okay.

"You're welcome," he meowed.

"Well, I think I should be on my way." Mapleshade gave the fur on her chest a nervous lick, scrunching her face up as her tongue was met with the taste of mud. Great. She was covered!

"I haven't seen you at the last couple of Gatherings. How come?" Applepaw wondered, ignoring what she had just said.

Mapleshade let out a breath. "I just didn't want to go, alright? Now, if you'll excuse me-"

"I heard you go by Mapleshade now. That's a nice name. It suits you. I wanted to tell you that at the Gathering, but you weren't there. I'm Appledusk now, by the way."

She glared at him. Was he deaf or something? She had already stated twice that she needed to go, while he had continued to babble on. She opened her mouth, ready to tell him off when the sound of paw steps sounded from behind her.

Mapleshade spun around, ready to stop whoever was approaching. She opened her mouth to let out a warning, but quickly closed it.

Birchface stood before her, inches from the quicksand. He looked past Mapleshade, to where Appledusk stood, his eyes narrowing into a glare. "What's going on here?" Birchface finally questioned, diverting his attention to Mapleshade.

She ducked her head, embarrassed. "I wasn't paying attention, and I fell into some quicksand."

"What is he doing here?" Birchface was glaring at Appledusk again.

"I rescued her," Appledusk meowed calmly. "You're welcome."

"Next time leave ThunderClan's matters to ThunderClan," Birchface growled, the fur along his spine bristling.

"So you want me to leave her to die next time? Great idea. I'm sure you would have been so much more appreciative had I done that." Appledusk rolled his eyes.

"Why are you even on our territory to begin with?" Birchface demanded, unsheathing his claws.

Mapleshade let out a groan. Was Birchface really going to pick a fight right now? She scurried around the quicksand, coming to stand beside her Clanmate. She tried to urge Birchface to take a step back, but he pushed her away, his eyes still locked on Appledusk.

"Actually, this is RiverClan's territory. You passed the scent marker a few fox-lengths back," Appledusk said.

Birchface turned to glare at Mapleshade this time. She shrank back, ears flattened against her head. She had been so caught up with the hunt that she hadn't even realized she had crossed the border. It also didn't help that the scent markers were stale, but that would explain why Appledusk had been so close by.

"What is wrong with you?" Birchface demanded. "How could you be so careless?"

Mapleshade straightened up. Was he really going to scold her for a simple mistake? It wasn't as though she had intentionally crossed the border! Besides, he too had crossed the border.

"Don't worry. I know it was an accident. I wasn't planning on saying anything," Appledusk promised.

"I wasn't talking to you," Birchface snapped.

Appledusk barred his teeth. For a moment, Mapleshade thought he was going to attack Birchface, but Appledusk stood still. He flashed Mapleshade a sympathetic stare and fled back from where he had come.

Once they were alone, Birchface grabbed Mapleshade by the scruff and began hauling her through the forest. Mapleshade twisted, wrenching herself free from his grasp, tufts of her fur flying as she did so.

"Don't you ever grab me like that again!" she shouted, her claws out. She didn't care if Birchface was her Clanmate. He wasn't going to touch her again like that and get away with it.

"You need to pay more attention to where you're going next time," Birchface hissed, ignoring her. "Even kits know not to cross the border."

"It was an accident!" she shrieked, growing angrier and angrier by the second.

By now, the rest of their patrol had gathered around them. They looked back and forth between Birchface and Mapleshade, confused.

"What's going on?" Deerdapple finally asked, taking a step forward.

"And to make matters worse, you didn't even catch anything!" Birchface continued to yell, completely ignoring Deerdapple's presence.

"Why are you acting like such a fox-heart?" Mapleshade spat.

"Because you should know better!"

"Stop it," Seedpelt warned, taking a step between the two warriors. "I'm sure there's no need to argue. Now, take a deep breath, and someone explain what's going on."

"I accidentally crossed the border with RiverClan, and fell into some quicksand," Mapleshade explained. "It's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal!" Birchface argued. "You know what RiverClan did to my mother. The last thing we need is to give them another excuse to attack us."

"Birchface, calm down," Whitefoot told him. "It was an accident. Darkstar isn't going to send her warriors after us just because Mapleshade accidentally walked a few tail-lengths over the border. You're getting yourself worked up for nothing."

Mapleshade shot Whitefoot a thankful look, glad that her Clanmates were seemingly on her side.

Birchface stood there, tail lashing. He glared at Mapleshade one last time, before disappearing into the forest.

Mapleshade watched him leave, her heart twisting. Why was Birchface acting like this? She had allowed herself to believe that Birchface was only grieving and that he would get over it soon. But this was far beyond grief. He was being a downright fox-heart. And he only seemed to be getting worse as time went on. Will he ever be the Birchface I once knew? She thought. Or is he gone forever?

"Come, let's get you washed up," Whitefoot meowed, nudging Mapleshade towards the river.

Mapleshade hesitated at the edge of the water. She had never gone swimming before. She lifted one paw, placing it into the water. She recoiled as soon as the icy water hit her skin.

"The sooner you wash it off, the better," Deerdapple called. "Otherwise the mud will stick to your fur, and you'll never be able to get it out."

Mapleshade sighed. Let me get this over with quickly, she thought. She leaped forward, submerging her entire body in the water. She let out a yelp and turned back towards the shore, but Whitefoot stopped her.

Dawnfeather and Deerdapple climbed into the water and swam over to Mapleshade. They began to rub their paws against her pelt, washing the mud away. As they worked, Mapleshade stood there, shivering. How did RiverClan cats stand this? It was unbearable!

"We're almost done," Dawnfeather meowed, scrubbing the mud off Mapleshade's chest.

"And don't pay any attention to Birchface. He's just grouchy," Deerdapple added.

Mapleshade let out a sigh. That was easier said than done. "Thanks," she mumbled, trying not to shiver.

Finally, the she-cats had finished cleaning Mapleshade off. She clambered out of the water, hissing as the cool air touched her pelt. It made her feel even colder than she already felt. She shook water droplets from her fur and began to follow her Clanmates home.

Chapter Text

Chapter Ten

Moonlight illuminated the forest, coating the leaves in a distinct silvery glow.

Mapleshade sat at the edge of ThunderClan's camp, giving herself one final touch-up before the Gathering. She hadn't attended one since she was an apprentice when Birchface had invited her.

Mapleshade frowned. That was so long ago.

She cast a glance at Birchface, who sat opposite to her across the clearing. He didn't notice her stare. He was too busy talking to Graytuft. Not that Mapleshade minded. She didn't care if she never spoke to Birchface again, not after what he had done to her that day with Appledusk.

It had been a moon since that day, and Mapleshade still wasn't over it. Not only had he embarrassed her in front of their Clanmates, but to grab her by the scruff like a kit? And to make matters worse, he hadn't even bothered to apologize to her.

Mapleshade looked away from Birchface, feeling herself growing hot with anger. She gave her chest furs a couple of licks, hoping that would calm her down.

Oakstar appeared from the mouth of his den, limping forward. For a moment, Mapleshade found herself back on the night of the battle, when Oakstar had been injured. Although his injuries had healed, the ThunderClan leader now walked with a permanent limp.

"It's time," Oakstar called.

Mapleshade got to her paws and followed Oakstar towards the gorse tunnel. She nodded her head at Cherrypetal, Deerdapple, and Embershine as she passed. The three she-cats were laying outside of the nursery, finishing up their last meal for the night.

Cherrypetal was the first to finish. She stood to her paws and began to stretch. Her pregnant belly swayed slightly, a reminder of the kittens that would soon be born.

It had been a long time since kittens had been born in ThunderClan. Mapleshade and Dawnfeather had been the last kits to be born into the Clan, and that was well over a year ago. So it was refreshing to know that three litters of kits would be brought into the world soon, bringing new life into the Clan.

Mapleshade then frowned. She felt bad for the kittens, in a way. They would be born into a dangerous environment, with a multitude of expectations placed onto their shoulders the moment they are born. They would be trained to defend ThunderClan even at the cost of their own lives. And some of them would die doing exactly that.

Images of Dovesong's dead body flashed through Mapleshade's mind. She could still envision that day clearly in her mind, as though it was just yesterday. Dovesong had been a kit once, too, Mapleshade realized. She began to imagine Dovesong as a kit, playing in the nursery, innocent to the fate that would await her one day. Did her parents, whoever they may be, worry about her growing up?

"What's the point in becoming a warrior, if you can't even defend your Clan properly? How many cats have died throughout the Clans history, only for nothing to change? Their Clan mourns for them for a time, before going right back to fighting over prey and territory until the next unlucky soul shares the same fate. It's an endless cycle."

Birchface's words from so long ago came echoing back to haunt Mapleshade. She had scoffed at those words back then, thinking Birchface was exaggerating. But now, Mapleshade had to admit there was truth to those words. It was an endless cycle, one that didn't seem to have much payoff.

That wasn't to say Mapleshade didn't take pride in being a warrior, or that she hated her life in ThunderClan. Far from it. ThunderClan was her home, and she couldn't imagine living elsewhere. I just wish things were a little different, she thought with a sigh.

She glanced at Goldenmist, who was climbing the ravine alongside Mapleshade. It had been several moons since the fox attack, and Goldenmist was finally well enough to attend the Gathering.

Mapleshade then eyed the bald spots on Goldenmist's neck, where the fur had yet to return. Scars from the fox's teeth littered her skin, a permanent reminder of that day. As Mapleshade stared, she found herself wrapped up in the memory of that day all over again.

She could see the fox standing there, Goldenmist's neck in its jaws. Blood was gushing from Goldenmist's neck, running down her chest and legs, onto the snowy ground. Goldenmist's screams echoed in Mapleshade's memory, as she imagined more and more blood falling to the ground. She had never noticed how much there had truly been, until now. Mapleshade wondered how she hadn't been sick. Goldenmist was lucky to be alive. They both were. It was only due to the will of StarClan both of them had made it out alive.

"You're staring," Goldenmist's voice interrupted Mapleshade's thoughts.

"Sorry." Mapleshade looked away, embarrassed.

Goldenmist gave her a look. She picked up her pace so that she could walk with Birchface, leaving Mapleshade behind.

By the time ThunderClan reached Fourtrees, the rest of the Clans had already arrived. Cats from WindClan and ShadowClan mingled, while RiverClan's warriors stuck to themselves. They stood at the far edge of the clearing, giving disgusted looks at those who walked past.

Mapleshade rolled her eyes. She didn't understand why RiverClan even bothered to attend the Gathering if they were going to act the way they were. Besides, what had WindClan and ShadowClan done to deserve such behavior? They hadn't been involved in anything.

Clearly, Darkstar doesn't know to take responsibility for her actions, Mapleshade thought snidely.

Mapleshade gave the RiverClan cats one final look, before deciding to look for Dawnfeather. Pushing her way through the crowd, Mapleshade scanned the clearing for a sign of her sister's familiar pale orange-and-white pelt.

Finally, she spotted her sister sitting with Thrushtalon. They were laughing about something Mapleshade couldn't hear. Thrushtalon then leaned over, and whispered something into Dawnfeather's ear, causing her to laugh harder.

As Mapleshade watched, a pang of sadness washed over her. She knew she was being ridiculous. Her sister was allowed to have a life and friends outside of her. But for some reason, Mapleshade couldn't help but feel upset as she watched her sister together with Thrushtalon.

Mapleshade then spotted Birchface and Goldenmist, sitting with a group of ShadowClan cats. They, too, were laughing about something. Nightshade, a beautiful black she-cat, said something to Birchface and then prodded him with her paw. Mapleshade cringed, fully expecting Birchface to recoil from her touch, or to even grow angry with her. But to Mapleshade's surprise, he let out an amused meow.

Mapleshade stared. What had just happened? Birchface would never act like that with her. Why did it feel as though every cat important to her, was slipping out of her grasp?

"You know, it's rude to eavesdrop."

Mapleshade spun around, the fur on the back of her neck standing up. Appledusk stood before her, his brown pelt groomed to perfection. It gleamed in the moonlight, giving him an ethereal look. "Why do I always seem to run into you everywhere I go?" she growled. "And I wasn't eavesdropping. I was looking for my sister."

"Really? Because you've been standing there staring at Birchface for the last few minutes."

Mapleshade narrowed her eyes. She wasn't in the mood for this. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to say hi," Appledusk replied smoothly.

"Why?"

"Well, tonight is the Gathering. And I know you don't attend many of these so perhaps you've forgotten, but this is the one night that cats from different Clans are allowed to talk to one another," Appledusk said.

Mapleshade dug her claws into the ground. "Maybe you should explain that to the rest of your Clanmates since they're the ones standing in the corner by themselves."

Appledusk's cool demeanor immediately crumbled. He looked over his shoulder to where his Clanmates stood. They still hadn't bothered to move since Mapleshade had arrived. "It's a long story. Ignore them."

"Why aren't you with them?" Mapleshade asked. She followed his gaze, and for a moment she wondered what RiverClan thought of Appledusk's behavior. Something was going on in RiverClan to make them shun the rest of the Clans. So why wasn't Appledusk following along?

"How are you?" Appledusk asked, ignoring Mapleshade.

"Answer my question."

"Answer mine," Appledusk said.

"I will if you tell me what's going on," Mapleshade retorted.

Appledusk looked over his shoulder again. His gaze locked on Reedshine, who was giving him a very unpleasant look. He then turned to look back at Mapleshade. "There's just a lot of things going on in RiverClan at the moment. I… I can't elaborate on it more than that. I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you, but it's better if you don't know."

Mapleshade frowned. She could tell Appledusk was being earnest. In a way, she felt bad for him.

Suddenly, Appledusk was shoved to the ground.

Mapleshade jumped, before her eyes locked onto Birchface. He stood over Appledusk, eyes blazing. "Why did you do that?" she snapped.

"Go back to the rest of your flea-bitten Clanmates," Birchface snarled, ignoring Mapleshade. He continued to stand over Appledusk, the fur along his spine bristling.

Mapleshade pushed Birchface away from Appledusk. She looked up at him, lost for words. Was he going to cause a scene here, in front of everyone? By now, a large crowd had gathered around the three of them. Mapleshade could feel their stares burning into her pelt, causing her to grow more uncomfortable than she already was.

"What are you doing?" Birchface hissed at her.

"I could ask you the same! Why did you push him?" Mapleshade shouted.

"You don't need to be hanging around with him," Birchface said. He tried to look Mapleshade in the eye as he spoke, but he looked away.

Mapleshade took a deep breath. She could feel the skin under her fur growing hot with anger. Who did Birchface think he was, telling her who she was allowed to speak to? "How dare you," she snapped. "I can talk to whoever I want."

"How dare I? I'm trying to protect you," Birchface growled. "He's a RiverClan cat. You know what they did to us! What they did to my parents..." He trailed off, his voice quivering. For a split second, Mapleshade felt sympathetic towards him. She grieved Dovesong's death. All of ThunderClan did. But that was no excuse for the way Birchface had been the last few moons.

"That's not an excuse to treat everyone around you like dung," Mapleshade replied.

"You don't know what it's like to lose a family member. You would react the same way," Birchface said.

Just like that, the little bit of sympathy Mapleshade felt towards Birchface evaporated like morning dew. "You don't know anything about me. You don't even talk to me unless it's to berate me in front of everyone." She raised her paw, ready to strike him across the face.

Goldenmist stepped in between Birchface and Mapleshade. "Birchface, go sit down," she urged. Her voice was shaking, and Mapleshade could tell she was growing nervous at the amount of attention this situation had attracted.

Mapleshade finally tore her gaze away from Birchface. She looked around for Appledusk, but he was nowhere to be found. She finally spotted him standing amongst his Clanmates. They still hadn't moved from their original spot at the edge of the clearing, but they were aware of what had just happened.

Reedshine stared across the clearing at Mapleshade, her eyes narrowed. Beside her, an unfamiliar tortoiseshell she-cat hissed. The sight of this caused Mapleshade to become even angrier than she already was.

I can't do this anymore, Mapleshade thought. She pushed her way through the crowd, ignoring Birchface's sudden cries as he begged for her to stay. As she walked, Mapleshade wondered whether or not Birchface would follow her, but he never did.

Chapter Text

Chapter Eleven

Mapleshade stomped through the forest, not daring to look back. She worried that if she did, she would find someone following her. She wasn't ready to face anyone yet, especially not Birchface.

She didn't want to see Goldenmist either, not that Mapleshade believed she would follow her. While Goldenmist was sympathetic towards Mapleshade for the way her brother was behaving, she knew Goldenmist's loyalty would always lie with her brother first. If Birchface was hurting, Goldenmist would stick by his side, even to the death.

That was just the way they were, and Mapleshade didn't expect things to change anytime soon.

Mapleshade finally stopped walking. She looked up and realized that she had come to the Owl Tree. She hadn't come here in some time. Due to the owl that nested in the tree, prey wasn't as common, so there wasn't much reason to visit.

The undergrowth behind Mapleshade began to rustle. She immediately tensed and unsheathed her claws. Was that the owl coming to get her? While Mapleshade had never witnessed a full-grown cat being carried off by an owl, she had heard stories. She said a silent prayer to StarClan, begging them to keep her safe.

By now, the rustling in the undergrowth was growing louder and louder. Mapleshade's heart was beating rapidly in her chest, when suddenly…

"There you are!" Dawnfeather's pale orange-and-white face poked out from underneath a fern. She glanced up at the Owl Tree, and then back down at Mapleshade. "You know, the Gathering is supposed to involve cats, not owls, right?"

Mapleshade let out a sigh of relief. "You gave me a heart attack."

Dawnfeather gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry."

"What are you doing here?" Mapleshade asked.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay," Dawnfeather explained. "I saw that you were arguing with Birchface, and then you just ran off. I was really worried."

Mapleshade sighed. "I'm fine. Thanks."

"What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it." If Dawnfeather wanted to know what had happened between her and Birchface, she would have to ask someone else. Mapleshade was positive it would be the talk of the camp by the time the Gathering was over.

"Alright then. We don't have to talk about it," Dawnfeather promised. She sat down next to Mapleshade and looked up at the Owl Tree.

"Owls are neat, aren't they?" Dawnfeather asked.

Mapleshade shrugged. "I guess." She followed Dawnfeather's gaze, her eyes widening once she spotted the owl that sat perched among the tree's many branches. Mapleshade wasn't sure why she was so surprised to see an owl at the place called the Owl Tree, but perhaps it was due to the fact it had been sitting there all this time without her knowing.

"It's not hunting us, is it?" Mapleshade whispered.

Dawnfeather shook her head. She pointed her tail towards a clump of brambles not far from them.

A little mouse scuttled across the forest floor, unaware of the dangers that surrounded it. Based on its size, Mapleshade guessed it to be young. Too young, to know better.

Its inexperience and naivety proved to be its demise, for the owl swooped down from the tree, sinking its talons into the mouse. Mapleshade and Dawnfeather watched in amazement, as the owl carried its prey away to its nest.

The whole thing was over in a matter of seconds. For a moment, Mapleshade wondered if it had happened or if she had imagined the whole thing. But as she glanced at Dawnfeather, she saw that her sister had the same amazed look on her face.

"Wow," Dawnfeather breathed.

"I know," Mapleshade agreed.

"It happened so fast, too," Dawnfeather continued. "The poor mouse didn't see it coming. I almost feel sorry for it."

"Me too." Mapleshade frowned. "But better it than us."

"True," Dawnfeather meowed. She stared back up at the tree and shuddered. Mapleshade didn't have to imagine what she was thinking of.

The two sisters moved away from the Owl Tree and headed through the forest. At first, Dawnfeather suggested they head back to camp, but Mapleshade declined. She wasn't ready to return to camp yet.

"Do you want to go swimming?" Dawnfeather joked, earning an eye roll from her sister.

"I'll voluntarily go swimming when hedgehogs fly," Mapleshade scoffed.

"Maybe we could borrow a few of the owl's feathers, and stick them onto the hedgehog," Dawnfeather meowed. "Although we would have to find an owl that could speak cat first."

"Should we ask that one back there?"

"I don't want to interrupt his meal. I don't want to end up as dessert," Dawnfeather purred.

"Good thinking," Mapleshade played along. "I guess we'll have to look for a different owl." She leaped up onto a rock, and began to call out, "Are there any owls that can speak cat around here?"

"'Yes'," Dawnfeather meowed, putting on a fake voice. "'Here I am!'"

Mapleshade leaped down from her rock. "You're a funny-looking owl."

"'And you're a funny-looking cat'," Dawnfeather joked, still putting on a fake voice.

"I take after my sister," Mapleshade said. "Everyone says I look just like her."

Dawnfeather's jaw dropped in disbelief and amusement. She leaped onto Mapleshade, knocking her to the forest floor. The two sisters began to wrestle with one another, sending leaves flying. Mapleshade let out purrs of amusement as Dawnfeather jabbed at her belly.

"Stop! Stop!" she begged as Dawnfeather continued to tickle her.

"Never!" Dawnfeather cried.

Mapleshade kicked out her back legs, pushing Dawnfeather off of her. Before her sister could recover, Mapleshade jumped on top of her, pinning her to the ground.

It didn't last long though, as Dawnfeather quickly overpowered Mapleshade. She pushed Mapleshade back to the ground and held her there. Mapleshade tried to wriggle free, but she was too exhausted.

Finally, Dawnfeather took a step back. She gave her chest fur a couple of licks as she tried to catch her breath.

Mapleshade sat up, panting. She began to pick bits of leaves from her fur, cringing as one stuck to her tongue.

"Let's go hunting," Dawnfeather said suddenly.

At first, Mapleshade thought that Dawnfeather was joking. But when her sister's face didn't change, Mapleshade realized she was being quite serious. "It's nighttime," Mapleshade said. "How are we supposed to hunt in the dark?"

"We'll have the light of the moon to guide us," Dawnfeather meowed.

Mapleshade looked around. The forest was still dappled in the moon's silvery glow. But would that be enough to help them find any prey? The deeper they ventured into the forest, the darker it would get as the trees canopy blocked out extra light. Plus, how much prey would be awake this late?

"Please," Dawnfeather begged, noticing Mapleshade's hesitance. "Even if we don't catch anything, it will still be fun."

Mapleshade finally nodded. "Alright, I suppose."

Dawnfeather leaped to her paws, her eyes gleaming. She bounced through the forest, her tail held high. Mapleshade chased after her, ducking and dodging through the undergrowth. As she ran, she wondered how Dawnfeather expected to catch anything when she was being so loud, but she decided to keep her mouth shut.

A fallen tree lay on the forest floor in front of them. Dawnfeather leaped over it gracefully, landing on the other side. Mapleshade tried to copy her, but stumbled, landing in a clump of bracken.

Dawnfeather let out an amused purr.

"Don't laugh!" Mapleshade frowned.

"I'm not laughing."

"You are!"

"Am not!"

Mapleshade crouched down, wiggling her hind legs. She pounced onto Dawnfeather and held her against the ground. For the second time that evening, the two sisters tussled on the ground, squealing like kits. Finally, Dawnfeather shoved her away.

"Let's be serious," she meowed. She gave her chest fur a couple of licks to smooth it down. She then stared into the distance, her eyes narrowing.

Mapleshade followed her gaze, wondering if her sister had spotted something. It was unlikely given the amount of noise they had just made, but perhaps StarClan would be on their side this night.

Dawnfeather crouched down. She moved like a ghost across the forest floor, each paw step landing silently as she crept closer and closer to whatever Dawnfeather had spied earlier.

Mapleshade still wasn't sure what her sister had seen, but it must have been something good for Dawnfeather to react so quickly.

Finally, Dawnfeather pounced into a clump of ferns. Mapleshade could hear a loud squeal, followed by silence. Dawnfeather poked her head out of the ferns a second later, a plump vole dangling from her mouth.

Dawnfeather trotted back towards Mapleshade with her prey, her whiskers twitching with pride.

"Wow!" Mapleshade exclaimed. "That was great. How did you even spot that?"

"Luck." Dawnfeather shrugged. "I really thought it was going to get away."

"You sure didn't act like it."

Dawnfeather looked down at her catch. "Should we head back to camp now, or do you want to keep hunting?"

"I want to try and catch something," Mapleshade said. "It's the least I can do after…" She trailed off, her mind filling with images of tonight's argument with Birchface. She had almost forgotten all about it. Her face twisted into a look of disgust as the scene replayed in her head over and over again. Don't think about it. Enjoy your time with Dawnfeather!

"Mapleshade?"

"Let's keep hunting."

Mapleshade began to walk through the forest, scenting the air every so often. To her annoyance, there was nothing to be found. Or maybe my senses are worse than I thought. Just then, the sound of squeaking caught her attention. Mapleshade froze.

From where she stood, it sounded like it was coming from a nearby poplar tree. She narrowed her eyes, trying to see if she could spot any movement. At first, she struggled to see anything, but finally, she caught sight of several little shapes running around the base of the tree. Mice, from the look and scent of it. She would have to be quick if she wanted to catch one.

Dawnfeather came up from behind Mapleshade. Mapleshade flicked her tail towards the tree where the mice were at.

"There's at least four of them," Mapleshade whispered. "If we're lucky, we can each catch one."

Dawnfeather nodded.

Mapleshade dropped down. She took a deep breath and began sneaking towards the mice. Dawnfeather, who was several lengths away, was doing the same. She was moving slightly faster than Mapleshade, causing Mapleshade to grow nervous. If Dawnfeather reacted too soon, neither of them would be able to catch anything.

Just as Mapleshade feared, Dawnfeather leaped too soon. She managed to hook one of the mice with her claws, causing the others to scatter. Mapleshade rushed forward, jumping onto a mouse that was attempting to run away. She clumsily grabbed it, allowing for it to jump out of her grasp with a squeal. Mapleshade clambered after it. She managed to grab its tail, holding it still. She leaned down and gave it a quick bite to the neck, killing it.

"Mapleshade!" Dawnfeather panted. "Did you catch it?"

Mapleshade grabbed the mouse and headed back to her sister. "Barely."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. We caught them didn't we?"

Dawnfeather looked down at the mouse she had managed to catch. "I suppose." She nudged it with her paw. "Mine's not very big, is yours?"

"No." Mapleshade frowned. Her mouse only appeared to be a few mouthfuls, but it would be better than nothing. It would at least make a nice snack for one of the cats returning home from the Gathering.

Mapleshade then looked up at the sky. The moon was starting to sink lower and lower into the night sky. It wouldn't be long before dawn. She then yawned, a wave of fatigue washing over her. Looking at Dawnfeather, she could tell her sister was feeling the same way. Her sister's eyelids were beginning to droop, and her movements were getting slower.

Grabbing their mice, they headed back to where Dawnfeather had stashed the vole she had caught. From there, they began to long walk back to ThunderClan's camp.

By the time the ravine came into sight, the moon had vanished below the treeline. It was still dark out, but flecks of pink and orange were beginning to appear in the eastern sky. Here and there, birdsong could be heard as more and more birds awoke.

As Mapleshade pushed her way through the gorse tunnel, she was surprised to see that the Gathering patrol still hadn't arrived. For a moment, Mapleshade began to panic. What if something had happened at the Gathering? What if a fight had broken out because of the argument she had gotten into with Birchface over Appledusk?

Just as her mind became overwhelmed with fear, the gorse tunnel rustled, and Oakstar walked into camp. He walked with a calm demeanor to him, and his head held high. The rest of ThunderClan followed him. Everyone appeared to be fine, just tired.

Mapleshade let out a sigh of relief. Everything was fine.

Chapter Text

Chapter Twelve

"Bury it under that oak. We'll come back for it later," Graytuft meowed as scrapped bits of earth over his prey.

"What about this rabbit?" Goldenmist asked, glancing down at her catch. "This is a big catch. I'm afraid to leave it here."

It was a little past sunhigh, and a hunting patrol was currently out. They had spent the last hour hunting near the Treecut Place, which had proved to be quite successful. Graytuft had managed to catch two shrews, while Goldenmist and Mapleshade had worked to bring down a rabbit.

Mapleshade eyed it now, her chest swelling with pride. This rabbit would be enough to feed the entire nursery, as well as Rabbitfur.

"It'll be fine," Graytuft promised. He looked up at the sky. "We're not going to be out much longer."

"Why don't we just head back now?" Goldenmist asked.

"I'm not ready to head back to camp yet," Mapleshade said. It was a nice day out. The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight, and the temperature was just right. These were the days she enjoyed most. She wasn't ready to throw the entire day away so that she could sit around camp doing nothing. Sure, she could have gone hunting on her own, but it wasn't the same as hunting with others.

"I'm not either," Graytuft meowed in agreement with Mapleshade. "This weather is too perfect to pass up. The more prey we catch, the better off ThunderClan will be."

"But Beetail's going to send out another hunting patrol tonight."

"If you want to go back, you can. But Mapleshade and I are going to check out Sunningrocks. I'm sure there's bound to be some more prey there," Graytuft said.

Mapleshade's tail drooped. Of course, Graytuft would pick Sunningrocks of all the places. It seemed as though she couldn't escape any reminder of RiverClan. It was as though StarClan had placed a curse upon her for whatever reason. Whatever, she thought. Let's just get this over with.

Mapleshade followed Graytuft through the forest in the direction of Sunningrocks. Along the way, she spotted a sparrow hopping along the ground. She immediately dropped into a hunter's crouch and began to slink across the forest floor towards the bird. She then leaped onto the bird, giving it a killing bite to the neck.

"Excellent job!" Graytuft praised. "I knew coming this way was a good idea."

Mapleshade tried to look enthusiastic about her catch. "Yeah. I guess so."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Let's keep going." Really, she wasn't fine. Her desire to keep hunting had disappeared like the morning dew, but she couldn't tell that to Graytuft. He wouldn't understand. He had no idea about Appledusk, and all of the encounters Mapleshade had, unfortunately, had with him. Or all of the arguments she and Birchface had gotten into over RiverClan's mere existence. No cat (outside of Dawnfeather, and assumedly Goldenmist) knew these things. Mapleshade had to make sure things stayed like this.

The two warriors continued through the forest, their eyes peeled for any sign of prey. Graytuft ended up catching another shrew, while Mapleshade caught a lizard. It wasn't ThunderClan's typical prey, but it had been an easy catch that she wasn't willing to pass upon.

Up ahead, Mapleshade could see the light reflecting off the surface of the river. It bounced off the calm waters, twinkling like thousands of little gems. As she watched, she had to admit that the sight was quite beautiful. On days like today, she could slightly understand why RiverClan admired the water so much.

Just then, a tiny screech alerted Mapleshade. At first, she thought it had been nothing more than a bird somewhere in the distance. But then, the cry came again, closer this time. She angled her ears towards the direction the sound had come from, waiting. This time, another little squeak sounded. This one was different.

It was at that point Mapleshade noticed several little bundles of fluff bouncing around on Sunningrocks. She narrowed her eyes, trying to pinpoint what exactly she was looking at, but it was hard to see through all of the trees and undergrowth blocking the way. She then opened her mouth, trying to pick up a scent. To her annoyance, she could smell nothing outside of the usual.

Mapleshade picked up the pace, Graytuft trailing after her. As she ran, she kept her eyes locked on the tiny fluffballs. From what she could tell, there were at least two of them, possibly more, but she wasn't sure.

Mapleshade burst out from the trees, landing onto Sunningrocks. Her eyes then widened at what stood before her.

Kittens. Five of them to be exact, all of which appeared to be quite young. Two of the kittens were pale gray. Based on their size and the fact their eyes had already changed from blue to green, Mapleshade assumed them to be the oldest. Even so, they were no older than two moons. Too young to be outside of the nursery, and especially too young to be in ThunderClan's territory. Another one was all black, while the last two were gray-and-white. All of them carried RiverClan's familiar scent.

"What are you doing here?" Mapleshade asked, trying to keep calm. What in the name of StarClan are they doing here? She glanced out at the river. Although the water was calm today, she couldn't imagine such tiny creatures making the swim across the river.

The kittens stared at her, their eyes round with fear. Two of the youngest kittens began to tremble as they stared up at her.

"I'm not going to hurt you," she promised.

The bushes behind Mapleshade began to rustle. To Mapleshade's surprise, Goldenmist appeared. She strolled out from the undergrowth, Graytuft flanking her. Both warriors kept their eyes locked on the kits.

"What are you doing here?" Goldenmist demanded, her voice cold.

Mapleshade frowned. "Goldenmist-" she started, but her Clanmate ignored her.

"Don't you know this is ThunderClan's territory? You're trespassing."

One of the pale gray kits took a step forward. He puffed out his chest, trying to appear brave, but Mapleshade could see he was shaking. "We're hunting for our Clan," he squeaked.

"Is RiverClan so pathetic that it has to rely on kits to hunt prey?" Goldenmist hissed.

The pale gray tom-kit's ears flatted to his head, but he did not say anything.

"Come on. Let's go back to camp," Mapleshade tried. She nudged Goldenmist's shoulder, trying to urge her back into the safety of the forest, but Goldenmist stood her ground. She sent a glare towards Mapleshade, one that caused the fur on the back of her neck to stand up.

"And just leave them here? I don't think so," Goldenmist snapped.

"They're just kittens," Graytuft whispered.

"Kittens that will grow into future warriors. We need to teach them a lesson now so that they don't grow up thinking they can just waltz through the forest wherever they want," Goldenmist said.

Mapleshade could feel a growl rising in her throat. "'Teach them a lesson?' What in the name of StarClan do you mean by that exactly?" Was Goldenmist suggesting they use violence against a group of kittens?

"We're going to take them back to ThunderClan camp. From there, I'll have Oakstar send a messenger to RiverClan so that negotiation can be made." Goldenmist glanced down at the kits as she spoke, her eyes filled with disgust.

"We're not going to do that," Graytuft said.

"So you're just going to let them go?" Goldenmist hissed.

"They're kittens, Goldenmist!" Mapleshade shouted. "They're not a threat to anyone." Mapleshade looked back at the kittens. They were huddled together, still shaking. They're so small, she thought, feeling a pang in her heart. It's a miracle they even managed to cross the river.

"They might not be a threat now, but one day they will be. If we let them go, they're going to continue through life thinking they can push us around. We need to show them now that ThunderClan is not to be messed with," Goldenmist said.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"

Goldenmist froze. She looked up to see a silver furred she-cat sliding out from the water. Behind her, four other RiverClan warriors appeared.

We're outnumbered, Mapleshade realized.

"Mother!" the pale gray tom-kit cried out, rushing towards one of the warriors. The other pale gray kitten followed after him. They brushed against their mother's leg, crying out happily.

"Fennelkit, Blossomkit! There you are. I was worried sick about you," the she-cat said. She was pale gray, just as her kits were, with short fur and long limbs. She looked quite familiar, though Mapleshade couldn't place her name.

"Are they alright, Lilynose?" the long-haired silver tabby from earlier asked.

"They're fine, Frostcloud. Just a bit shook up." Lilynose looked up, her eyes locking onto Goldenmist. Her eyes blazed with fury, and for a second Mapleshade thought she would attack. Mapleshade took a step towards her Clanmate, ready to flank Goldenmist in case Lilynose tried anything. But the RiverClan queen beckoned with her tail for the other three kits to come towards her.

"You're on our territory," Goldenmist growled. "I now see where your kittens learn it from."

Mapleshade let out a growl. Stop it! Can't you see we're outnumbered?

"Sunningrocks belongs to RiverClan," Frostcloud spat, her hackles rising. "But I don't expect a group of fishbrains to realize that."

"We took it from you fair and square," Goldenmist hissed.

"Just like you were going to take my kits?" Lilynose spoke up. She took a step towards Goldenmist, but a ginger tom stopped her.

"They'd be better off in ThunderClan than they would be with you. You can't even keep an eye on them. It's a wonder they didn't drown while trying to swim across the river," Goldenmist retorted.

"Goldenmist, stop it!" Mapleshade begged her. She needed to get Goldenmist out of here, now. Things were getting way out of control. If RiverClan decided to attack, it wouldn't end well.

Before anyone could react, Lilynose launched herself at Goldenmist. She knocked her to the ground, sending fur flying. Goldenmist let out a scream and kicked Lilynose off. Lilynose landed against a rock with a thud, knocking the wind from her chest. She staggered to her paws, gasping for air.

Mapleshade stood there. She then took a step towards Goldenmist. She could feel Frostcloud and Lilynose's angry stares burning into her skin as she walked. Just ignore them, she thought.

"Goldenmist," Mapleshade hissed, leaning down to help her friend up. "Are you alright?"

Goldenmist let out a cough. She stood up, her legs trembling slightly. She looked past Mapleshade to where Lilynose stood. She hobbled forward a few inches, but Mapleshade blocked her.

"Stop it," Mapleshade urged. She looked at Graytuft for assistance, but the gray tom was frozen.

"You're pathetic. Picking on a bunch of innocent kittens like that," Lilynose called out.

"I'm sorry. Please ignore her," Mapleshade begged.

Goldenmist's head snapped towards Mapleshade, her eyes blazing. "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to avoid a fight!" Mapleshade said. "In case you haven't noticed, we're outnumbered!"

"I'm not afraid of a bunch of overweight, fish eaters," Goldenmist said. She took another step towards Lilynose, but once again Mapleshade pushed her back.

"Who are you calling overweight, you badger-faced piece of crow-food?" Lilynose snarled.

"Enough!" Graytuft yowled. He quickly hurried to Mapleshade's side, blocking Goldenmist from Lilynose.

Lilynose lifted her head, a flash of satisfaction crossing her face. She, along with the rest of her Clanmates, was clearing taking Graytuft and Mapleshade's actions as a sign of cowardice. They continued to throw taunts, which only made Mapleshade grow more and more agitated by the second.

Why don't they realize I was trying to help them?

"Get your kits and leave," Mapleshade demanded, taking a step away from Goldenmist.

"I don't think we will," a ginger tom retorted.

Mapleshade eyed him. The fur along her spine was beginning to bristle. "Oh, yes you will. This isn't up for debate. Now go home."

"And if we don't leave?"

"Then I'll make you."

The ginger tom lifted his head and let out a purr of amusement. "You'll make us? Ha! I'd like to see you try."

"Mapleshade, just drop it," Graytuft called. He kept looking between Mapleshade and Goldenmist, afraid that either she-cat would make a rash decision.

"Oh, Frostcloud! Did you hear what this big, scary, ThunderClan warrior said to me? She's going to make me leave if I don't do what she says. I'm absolutely terrified! I think I'm going to have a nightmare," the ginger tom mocked.

"I know. She's just so terrifying. Whatever shall we do," Frostcloud pretended to agree.

Mapleshade's tail began to lash. "Leave," she tried again, but to no avail. The RiverClan warriors continued to mock her. As she stood there, Mapleshade could feel herself getting more and more agitated. She had tried so hard to avoid a fight, but it all seemed to be for nothing now.

Seconds later, the sound of water droplets hitting the rocks alerted the group of cats. Every cat looked up to see Spiketail, RiverClan's deputy, leading Darkstar out of the river and onto Sunningrocks. As they climbed up the rocks, Spiketail stayed close to his leader, nudging her up the rocks as a parent would do to their kits. They moved slowly, too, neither of them saying much. Every so often, Spiketail would whisper something to Darkstar, who seemed to be ignoring him completely. When they finally reached the top of the rocks, Darkstar hobbled to the front of the group. Spiketail looked as though he wanted to follow her, but he held back.

At first, Mapleshade found all of this to be quite odd. Why was Spiketail hovering around his leader like this? But once Darkstar stood before her, Mapleshade realized how unkempt the RiverClan leader truly was.

Her fur was dull and unkempt, as though she hadn't bothered to groom herself for moons. She was also extremely frail, to the point Mapleshade could see her bones sticking out from underneath her skin.

She must be sick, Mapleshade realized. Despite her dislike for the RiverClan leader, Mapleshade felt an ounce of sympathy towards her. Whatever was wrong with her was taking a toll on her body.

Glancing at the other RiverClan cats, Mapleshade saw each of them carrying a look of either embarrassment or distress as they looked upon their leader.

"I see you found the kits," Spiketail meowed, trying to be polite.

"Yes, and thankfully unharmed. We're lucky to have found them when we did. I overheard this-" Frostcloud glared at Goldenmist as she spoke, "-fleabag threatening to kidnap our kits as a ransom for trespassing."

Spiketail's eyes widened. For a second, he looked as if he wanted to say a bunch of not so polite things to Goldenmist, but he refrained. "We've got them now, and that's all that matters. We need to go home." He glanced in Darkstar's direction as if to say, 'She can't fight right now. Or ever again.'

"But Sunningrocks belongs to RiverClan. Now is the perfect opportunity to take it back!" the ginger tom argued.

"Not now," Spiketail said.

"But-"

"Let's go!" Spiketail ordered.

The ginger tom's tail began to lash back and forth, but he did not argue. He walked towards Lilynose, scooped up one of the kits, and then climbed into the water. The rest of the RiverClan warriors followed until Spiketail and Darkstar were all that was left.

"I'm letting you go today, but the next time you even think to suggest stealing out kits, it won't be pretty," Spiketail threatened.

"How dare you threaten us on our own land," Goldenmist snarled.

"Stolen land," Spiketail responded, eyes narrowed.

Goldenmist barred her teeth at him. She took a step forward, her claws unsheathed. For a second, Mapleshade thought she was going to claw the RiverClan deputy across the face, but Goldenmist dropped her paw. She sheathed her claws once more and looked him in the eye. "Go. Now." Her voice trembled with rage.

Spiketail stared her down for a couple of seconds before leading Darkstar back towards the river. Their pace was quicker this time as if they were in a hurry to get away from Goldenmist and the other ThunderClan warriors. Due to Darkstar's state, Mapleshade wondered if Spiketail was trying to get her out of here before she could get hurt.

"Mapleshade!" Goldenmist yowled once they were alone. "All of this is your fault!"

"My fault?" Mapleshade's eyes widened.

"Yes! If you would have just let me take those stupid kits, then we would have had RiverClan cowering in their nests for real. Now they think we're nothing but a joke."

"We don't need to traumatize a bunch of kits just to prove a point," Mapleshade snapped.

"When did you get so soft?" Goldenmist asked. "Whatever happened to the Mapleshade that fought a fox by herself?"

"That was different. I was trying to save your life!"

"You didn't seem too keen on saving my life today when that mangepelt attacked me just now!"

"Stop it, the both of you!" Graytuft shouted. He took a step between both she-cats and gave them both a stern look. "We're Clanmates. We need to act like it instead of allowing RiverClan to tear us apart."

"Tell that to Mapleshade! She's the one who's always picking fights with everyone," Goldenmist retorted.

Mapleshade's mouth opened. "Me? Do you not have any idea what you just caused?"

"I was trying to help us, Mapleshade. We could have had the entirety of RiverClan groveling at our feet over those stupid kits, and you ruined it." Goldenmist said. "They would have never tried to bother us again."

"Or you could have just waged another war and gotten more cats killed! Did you ever think about that?" Mapleshade said.

Goldenmist didn't say anything. She looked away from Mapleshade and Graytuft. She then spun around and walked into the forest, the ferns swallowing her up.

"Ignore her. Please," Graytuft pleaded, resting his tail across Mapleshade's shoulders.

"What do you think?" Mapleshade asked. "About Goldenmist's plan with the kits. Do you think it would have worked?"

Graytuft shook his head. "No. RiverClan would have never allowed such a thing to happen. They would have fought to the death over those kits before they would ever come groveling to our paws. That would only be a last case scenario, and by that point, I doubt it would even be worth it."

"Darkstar's sick," Mapleshade meowed as they walked through the forest to pick up their prey.

"She's been sick for a while," Graytuft said as he dug up the shrews he had buried earlier. He shook the soil off of them and began to head in the direction of the camp. Mapleshade followed him, her prey clamped tightly in her jaws.

"Really?" Mapleshade mumbled through a mouthful of feathers.

Graytuft nodded. "I tried to ask Ravenwing if he knew anything, but he refused to tell me."

"Maybe he doesn't know what's wrong with her."

"Maybe," Graytuft said half-heartedly. "But I think he does. He just doesn't want to say anything."

"But why? Surely it would be an advantage for us to know what's going on in RiverClan, right?"

Graytuft didn't respond.

When they arrived back at camp, Mapleshade dropped her prey off at the fresh-kill pile. Taking a step back, she felt her heart swell with pride at all of the catches that had been made that day. The Clan would be well fed tonight. She then spotted the rabbit she had caught with Goldenmist, and her mood sank. How was it that they had gone from working together, to arguing, in only a matter of hours?

Mapleshade looked around the camp to see where Goldenmist was. She finally spotted her talking with Birchface near the apprentice's den. Goldenmist was leaning into her brother's side, whispering something into his ear. As if they knew Mapleshade was staring, both cats looked up at her.

Birchface had an annoyed look on his face, while Goldenmist looked angry. Mapleshade didn't bother to look away. She continued to stare at them. She wished she knew what they were thinking, but at the same time, she was grateful such powers didn't exist. There was only so much anger and sadness she could take for the day, and she was at her limit.

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirteen

"I caught you!"

"No, you didn't! We already made it to the nursery before you could catch us!"

"Yes, I did! I grabbed your tail with my paw before you were anywhere near the nursery."

Mapleshade let out a purr of amusement as she stared across the clearing to where the nursery lay. Outside, a group of several kittens stood. There were five of them total, all of varying shades and colors. The two oldest kits - a pair of sisters named Deerkit and Doekit - were both shades of cream, similar to their mother Cherrypetal. The second oldest was a singular gray she-kit called Mistkit, born to Deerdapple. And lastly were Embershine's two kits, both black, named Crowkit and Stormkit.

Since the birth of these kits, Mapleshade had noticed a dramatic shift in mood throughout the Clan. For the first time in moons, there was a sense of peace and joy that filled ThunderClan's camp. All of the tension with RiverClan had been forgotten about, fading like morning dew.

Even Birchface seemed to be in a slightly better mood, not that Mapleshade had bothered to talk to him. Every so often, she would catch him staring at her from across the camp, a sullen look on his face as though perhaps he was beginning to regret everything that had happened between them. Yet, he did not bother to approach her. Not even once.

Good riddance, Mapleshade thought, redirecting her attention back towards the kits. She didn't want to think about Birchface, or RiverClan, or anything negative. Thinking about such things only proved to be a waste of time and energy, neither of which Mapleshade wanted to deal with.

Crowkit and Stormkit sat by the entrance to the nursery, staring up at the older kits as they argued. Their tiny blue eyes were round, unblinking, as they looked back and forth between Deerkit and Mistkit.

"You're cheating," Mistkit accused, her gray tail lashing back and forth.

"I'm not cheating. You are! Doekit and I were already at the nursery before you were anywhere near us," Deerkit argued. Mapleshade could see the fur along her neck and spine begin to bristle as she took a step closer to Mistkit.

"Stormkit, what did you see?" Mistkit asked, completely ignoring Deerkit.

"Don't bring him into this. He's just a kit."

"So are you."

"Yeah, but I'm older. He can barely walk."

"He still has eyes though. Come on, Stormkit. Tell me what you saw."

"Alright, that's enough," Deerdapple's voice sounded from inside the nursery. A moment later the gray-and-black she-cat poked her head through the den, giving each of the kits a stern look. "I think it's time to come inside and take a nap."

"What? No! I'm not tired," Mistkit whined.

"I don't care. You've been playing outside for long enough. Now come inside, all of you." Deerdapple walked over towards her daughter, scooping her up by the scruff. Mistkit wiggled before going still. As Deerdapple carried her back towards the nursery, Doekit let out a purr of amusement.

"It's time for you to go in as well," Cherrypetal meowed, nudging the remaining kits back towards the nursery. Crowkit and Stormkit obeyed without question, while Doekit and Deerkit tried to put up a fight. Cherrypetal picked Doekit with ease, placing her inside of the nursery. Deerkit followed her inside, not wanting to be left behind.

Mapleshade let out a sigh. She didn't understand how the queens could put up with such rambunctious kits all day long.

"Were we like that when we were kits?"

Mapleshade looked over her shoulder to see Dawnfeather standing there, her eyes gleaming. "I hope not," Mapleshade said.

Dawnfeather took a seat next to her sister. "Me too, but I wouldn't doubt it. You were pretty feisty back then. Still are. I remember the time you scratched mother across the nose because you didn't want to be groomed."

Mapleshade narrowed her eyes. "That was an accident. And it was only that one time."

"Sure, an accident. Whatever you say."

"It was!"

"That's not how I remember it."

"Well, you're remembering wrong. Anyways, you're one to speak when you threw up all over our nest once."

Dawnfeather's neck fur fluffed out, her eyes wide. "That never happened!"

"Yes, it did." This time, a third voice spoke up, causing both Mapleshade and Dawnfeather to jump. Both she-cats spun around, only to see Birchface standing there. He had an unreadable expression on his face, although from what Mapleshade could tell he didn't seem to be angry. His gaze flickered back and forth between the two sisters, only to finally settle on Mapleshade.

Mapleshade dug her claws into the ground, trying her best to stay calm and polite. Perhaps if she was cordial with him, he would just leave and she wouldn't have to deal with him.

Birchface opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He then took a step back. "I remember when that happened," he finally spoke up, his voice trembling ever so slightly. "You… You were just a kit back then. It's nothing to be embarrassed about."

Dawnfeather looked away from him, shuffling her paws on the ground. By now, all of her fur had fluffed out, making her look twice her size. "Oh."

Mapleshade let out a slight purr of amusement, forgetting that Birchface was standing there. She then stiffened, her mood souring. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, barely being able to contain all of the angry words she wanted to tell him. Why was he here? Hadn't he bothered her enough? Clearly not, Mapleshade thought angrily. She quickly stood to her paws, when -

"Mapleshade, wait."

Mapleshade stopped. She looked back at Birchface, eyes narrowed. What do you want?

"I'm about to go hunting. Would you like to come?" Birchface asked.

Mapleshade's tough demeanor immediately crumbled. She stared at him wide-eyed, lost for words. She then looked towards her sister, who had an amused expression on her face. "I…"

"Go," Dawnfeather whispered, nudging Mapleshade's shoulder.

Mapleshade didn't say anything. She just kept looking back and forth between her sister and Birchface. "Will you come with me?" Mapleshade asked Dawnfeather.

Dawnfeather shook her head. "Can't. I already promised Beetail I would join a patrol." She craned her neck, looking past Mapleshade, her eyes seemingly catching on something. "Oh, look. There they are! Gotta go. Goodbye, Mapleshade, and good luck on your hunt!" With that, she took off running towards the direction of the gorse tunnel.

Mapleshade's ears flattened to her head. "I don't see any patrols."

Birchface stared after Dawnfeather. "I don't either," he purred. When Mapleshade didn't share his sentiment, Birchface sighed. "So… hunting. Are you up for it?"

Mapleshade didn't say anything.

Birchface took another step back. "I'd really appreciate it if you came with me, but I understand if-"

"Do you have any idea how much you've hurt me?" Mapleshade interrupted. "You've been so terrible to me for several moons now, and you think you can come back into my life without an apology and act as nothing has happened?" The words were spilling out faster than Mapleshade could think, but she didn't care. She was tired of bottling all of her emotions deep inside, trying to act as though none of this bothered her.

Birchface's jaw dropped, but he didn't interrupt. He stood there silently, allowing for Mapleshade to spill all of her feelings out to him. Once she was done, he took a step forward. "Mapleshade, I'm so sorry. I know that words will never make up for what I've done, but I truly feel terrible for what I've said and done. It was wrong of me. You're one of my closest friends, and I should have treated you better. I should have apologized long before now."

Mapleshade just stood there. She didn't know what to say. Despite his apology, she was still angry with him. Yet, there was a part of her that wanted to forgive him, and to forget everything that had happened. She wanted things to go back to the way they used to be when they were younger.

"You don't have to forgive me today, but I would at least like to go hunting with you. Just this once. Then if you never want to see me again, I'll stay away. But it's your choice," Birchface said.

"Okay," she finally mewed.

Birchface brightened slightly, but he did not say anything. He followed Mapleshade towards the gorse entrance and up the ravine.

Neither cat spoke as they walked through the forest. Mapleshade was in the lead, heading towards the Thunderpath. Due to the foul stench permeating from the monsters, she didn't particularly like hunting near there, but she didn't want to take a chance hunting deeper into the forest. Even if they stayed away from Sunningrocks, the river would always be nearby. It was too risky to take a chance, especially since she had Birchface with her.

"I thought you didn't like hunting near the Thunderpath," Birchface commented.

"I don't."

"So why are we headed this way?"

Shut up! Mapleshade thought. "Because I want to."

"Oh."

They continued to walk in silence. After a while, Birchface spoke up again, "I think it's a good thing we're coming this way anyway. Beetail hasn't sent a patrol over here for a few days now."

"Good to know."

"So maybe after we hunt, we can refresh the scent markers along the border. I just hope ShadowClan hasn't noticed…"

Mapleshade let out a sigh. "We've never had problems with ShadowClan, so I doubt they'd do anything."

"You can never be too cautious," Birchface said.

Mapleshade rolled her eyes. Was he seriously worried about ShadowClan now? For as long as Mapleshade could remember, there had never been any serious tensions between ThunderClan and ShadowClan. Unlike RiverClan, ShadowClan had always stayed on their own territory, only crossing a slight strip of ThunderClan's land on the night of the Gathering. Smokestar and his warriors had always shown the utmost respect towards ThunderClan. There was no reason to be suspicious.

A movement in the undergrowth stopped both cats in their tracks. It appeared to be coming from some brambles just ahead of them. It wasn't loud enough to cause concern, but Mapleshade didn't want to take a chance. She knew snakes liked to gather nearby at Snakerocks. It wasn't unreasonable to assume one could have wandered into the nearby forest. She started sniffing the air, only to stop when Birchface bounded ahead. She was about to scold him when the sound of shrieks filled the air. And then silence.

Birchface appeared a second later, two mice dangling from his jaws. He dropped them at Mapleshade's feet, his eyes gleaming. "Caught them," he purred, nudging one towards her.

"Good job," she said, genuinely meaning it. She then looked down at the mouse Birchface had pushed over to her. "What is this?"

"I was thinking we could share it."

Mapleshade blinked. "We're not supposed to eat until the rest of the Clan has eaten," she reminded him. Was this a test? No, surely Birchface wouldn't try to get her in trouble on purpose. He wasn't that terrible, or so Mapleshade hoped.

A dejected look crossed Birchface's face. "Oh. I just thought it would be nice to share prey, but that's alright." He took the mouse back from Mapleshade and began to dig a hole. Placing both of his catches inside, Birchface shook the sand from his paws and continued through the forest.

Along the way, Mapleshade happened to notice a starling nestled on a low hanging branch of an ash tree. She dropped into a crouch, pulling herself towards the trunk of the tree. As she walked, she kept one eye locked on the bird. She needed to be careful. If it noticed her, everything would be ruined.

As she began to climb the tree, Mapleshade could feel Birchface's stare burning into her. She tried to ignore him, but the higher she got, the more intense his gaze became. She wanted to tell him to look away, but she couldn't speak. If she did, the starling would surely fly away.

By now, Mapleshade had reached the branch the starling sat upon. The bird had begun preening itself, oblivious to Mapleshade's presence. She slowly reached out her front paw, resting it on the branch of the tree. It quivered slightly, causing both Mapleshade and the starling to freeze.

I need to catch this, Mapleshade thought, placing another paw forward. Once again, the branch shook. The starling opened its wings, ready to take flight when Mapleshade leaped forward. She hooked its wing with her claws before giving it a killing bite to the neck. The branch bounced under her weight as she stood there, the bird held firmly in her jaws.

As Mapleshade walked back towards the trunk of the tree, the branch she walked along continued to bounce under her weight. Her heart was beginning to race, but she willed herself to remain calm. Below her, she could still feel Birchface's stare burning into her.

"Mapleshade, hurry!" he called, pacing along the bottom of the tree.

Before Mapleshade could say anything, the branch underpaw began to splinter before falling towards the earth below. She let out a shriek, having just enough time to dig her front claws into the part of the branch that hadn't separated from the tree. Her back legs dangled in the air, kicking out helplessly as she tried to pull herself up.

Mapleshade scrabbled at what was left of the branch, coughing as bits of wood and dust fell into her face. By now, her bird had long been forgotten, falling to the ground below. She didn't have time to think about that now. She needed to pull herself up, otherwise, she would fall to her death.

"Hold on, Mapleshade! I'm coming," Birchface called from somewhere below.

Mapleshade continued to kick out with her back legs, trying to find her footing. If she could just get one paw onto the branch, she would be able to pull herself forward…

Moments later, Birchface appeared. He clung to the trunk of the tree, staring out towards Mapleshade. He then placed a paw onto the remnants of the branch where Mapleshade clung, causing her to freak out.

"Stop!" she shouted. "You'll cause the whole thing to fall."

"I think it's sturdy enough," Birchface told her, taking another step. The branch quivered slightly underpaw, but it did not fall.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Mapleshade pleaded. Her heart was thrumming wildly in her chest now, and for a second she wondered if she would die from heart failure. Birchface now stood before her, causing her to look up at him. His amber eyes were round with fear, but he looked as though he was trying to remain calm for her sake.

"Let me help you," he whispered, leaning down.

Mapleshade's mouth opened, but no words came out. There was nothing she could say. She closed her eyes and allowed her body to go still as she waited for Birchface to pull her to safety. Or for them to both meet StarClan…

She finally felt Birchface's teeth biting onto her scruff. Mapleshade winced but kept her eyes shut. She could hear Birchface grunt as he began to pull Mapleshade's body forward. After a while, Mapleshade opened her eyes. Birchface continued to pull Mapleshade by the scruff until she was able to hook her back legs onto the branch, pulling herself to safety.

Both cats stood on the tiny remnant of the branch, panting. Their fur brushed against one another, causing a slight wave of comfort to wash over them both. Finally, Mapleshade turned to look Birchface in the eye. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice shaking.

"You're welcome," he said. "Now let's hurry and get down."

Once both cats were planted firmly on the ground, Mapleshade collapsed. Her heart was still racing so fast, and she could barely catch her breath. Birchface hovered a few tail lengths from her, trying to do the same. Neither of them spoke.

Once Mapleshade had calmed down enough, she staggered to her paws and walked over to her starling. It was covered by a couple of pieces of wood, crushed and bloodied. Mapleshade's tail drooped as she stared at her ruined catch. "All that for nothing," she muttered.

"It wasn't for nothing," Birchface promised her, coming to stand alongside her. Once again, their fur brushed against one another.

Mapleshade took note of it but said nothing. She continued to look down at the starling, kicking it with her paw. "No one can eat this."

"It's not that bad," Birchface said. "That piece right there doesn't seem so bad." He flicked his tail towards the breast of the bird, which appeared less damaged than the rest of it.

"Yeah, but look at the rest of it. It's all bloody and disgusting. I wouldn't eat this. I wouldn't even feed a rogue this."

"We'll take it back to camp anyways. Prey is prey."

Mapleshade scoffed. "And embarrass myself in front of the entire Clan? No thanks."

"I'll tell them I caught it," Birchface said.

"No. We should just bury this, and I'll try to catch something else," Mapleshade told him. She picked up the starling in her mouth and began to dig a hole. Dropping it inside, she turned to look back at Birchface. He was staring at her, his gaze unreadable.

"Once again… thank you for saving me," Mapleshade whispered. "What you did was very brave."

Birchface shrugged. "That's what friends are for. I know you would have done the same thing for me."

Would I have, though? Mapleshade wondered. As much as it horrified her, there was a part of her that felt she wouldn't have done a single thing to help Birchface had he been caught in a similar position. Don't think like that, she then scolded herself, a wave of guilt washing over her. Of course, she would save Birchface! They were Clanmates.

"Let's continue towards the Thunderpath," Mapleshade meowed. She shook scraps of wood and sand from her pelt and continued through the forest.

"We don't have to keep hunting you know," Birchface called as he followed after her.

"I need to bring back something edible."

"We still have those two mice from earlier, remember? We can each split one."

"You caught those. It wouldn't be fair for me to take credit."

"I want you to take one of them."

"I can catch something else."

"So can I," Birchface argued. "Come on, Mapleshade. I don't want you to push yourself any further than you already have today."

Mapleshade rolled her eyes. "I fought a fox once, remember? I've hardly pushed myself more than I can take."

"You're never going to live that down, are you?" Birchface asked.

"Nope. How could I? It's one of my greatest achievements." There was an air of playfulness to her words, one that she hadn't felt with Birchface in a long time.

"What are your other 'great achievements'?" Birchface asked, playing along.

Mapleshade was silent for a second as she thought. "That's it."

"I disagree. What you did back then was pretty great."

"You call 'almost falling to your death' an achievement?"

"No, but-" Birchface stopped. His eyes narrowed, and he began to creep towards some nearby bracken. At first, Mapleshade assumed he had spotted more prey until the overwhelming stench of crowfood filled her nose.

She followed after Birchface, only to recoil in disgust as the half-eaten remains of a decayed rabbit lay before them. Maggots crawled about the discarded animal, while flies buzzed around.

Mapleshade took a step back, unable to look at the dead animal anymore. "Let's get out of here," she called to Birchface, but he remained where he was. Mapleshade opened her mouth to call out to him again when she noticed how agitated he was becoming. Oh no.

"Birchface," Mapleshade called out again, but once more he ignored her.

"I knew it," Birchface growled, digging his claws into the ground.

"Knew what?"

"RiverClan's been hunting on our territory," Birchface said.

Mapleshade's eyes widened. "What makes you think that?" She peered through the trees to where the Thunderpath lay, several badger lengths away. "For all we know, it could have been hit by a monster and crawled into the forest to die. Or perhaps a rogue killed it…"

Birchface shook his head. "No. This is the work of RiverClan, I just know it. This is the third piece of prey I've found like this in the last moon. Besides, we've been picking up RiverClan's scent marks across the border for a while now."

Mapleshade blinked, her mouth open slightly. "Why hasn't Oakstar said anything about this?"

"He thought like you do. That it was just a coincidence, or that a rogue had done it. But I know otherwise."

"Are you sure?"

"Are you really that blind?" Birchface snapped, causing Mapleshade to flinch.

She then straightened up, her ears flattened to her head. Why was he yelling at her over this? It wasn't as though she had killed the rabbit and left it there! "I'm just trying to make sure what you say is true."

"You think I'd lie about something like this?"

"No!" Mapleshade's tail was beginning to lash back and forth. "I just don't want to blame RiverClan for something we aren't positive they did."

"Why do you always want to stick up for them?" Birchface asked. His eyes were blazing now. He began to circle Mapleshade, the fur along his spine sticking up.

"I'm not sticking up for anyone, Birchface," Mapleshade shot back, unsheathing her claws. "I just don't want to start a fight over nothing."

"It's not 'starting a fight over nothing'. It's defending our Clan and defending our honor. When another Clan steps out of place, it's up to us to do something about it."

"Yes, when we have proof. But there's nothing to show RiverClan did this."

"The proof is right over there! What more could you ask for?" Birchface shouted, flicking his tail towards the bracken where the half-eaten rabbit still lay. "Honestly, Mapleshade, I don't know what's happened to you. You brag about fighting off a fox, yet you're so passive all the time." A look filled his eyes, and he took a step closer to her. "You're not a coward, are you?"

Mapleshade curled her lip in disgust. "Never. I just don't want to see innocent bloodshed over something so pointless."

"You think it's pointless to be angry over the theft of our prey?" Birchface shook his head in disbelief. "What else do you think is pointless, then? Borders? The warrior code? If that's the case, maybe you shouldn't even live in ThunderClan. Maybe you should just leave and go live elsewhere. Maybe RiverClan will take you in since you seem to like them so much."

Mapleshade's hackles began to rise. "How dare you," she spat.

"How dare I? How dare you," Birchface responded. "All I want is to uphold the warrior code, while you're too busy sticking up for our enemy."

"I'm not sticking up for anyone. I just don't want anyone else to die. Isn't Dovesong's death enough?"

Silence filled the air. Birchface stared at her, his teeth bared. For a second, Mapleshade thought he would attack her, but he stayed where he was. "Don't bring up my mother's name ever again. She died protecting our Clan - protecting my father - from RiverClan. She would never sit back and allow such cowardice." Without saying another word, Birchface disappeared into the undergrowth, leaving Mapleshade behind.

Chapter Text

Chapter Fourteen 

Mapleshade watched as Birchface disappeared into the undergrowth. For a second, she considered following after him but decided against it. There was nothing he could say that would make it up to her. 

She hated him.

She hated him more than she had ever hated anyone in her entire life. He was, by far, the worst creature she had ever had the misfortune to come across, and that was saying a lot. She doubted there would ever be a cat viler than he. 

How could he yell at her like that? How could he accuse her of sympathizing with RiverClan, of wanting to live with them? She didn’t want that! She was loyal to ThunderClan with every fiber of her being, and always would be. It was because of her loyalty to her Clan that she didn’t want unnecessary bloodshed. That’s all. 

Why couldn’t Birchface see that? Why didn’t he understand her? They were supposed to be friends, or at least friend ly. But with every further interaction between them, they felt more like enemies. And that thought scared Mapleshade.

Spinning around, Mapleshade continued towards the Thunderpath. Since she was already here, she figured she would check the scent markers along the border. It would give her something to do so that she wouldn’t have to return back to camp. 

She paused at the edge of the forest, gazing out at the black Thunderpath. Monsters zipped back and forth, their foul stench filling the air. Mapleshade wrinkled her nose. How could the Twolegs stand it? Still, she did not bother to leave. She continued to watch as the monsters roared past. 

They were all so different and unique from one another. They were all different colors: some of them were bright and vibrant, while others were dull and plain. Some were small and completely enclosed, while others seemed to have a long tail poking out from the back. Sometimes they were even carrying things on their tail. 

The ones that stood out the most though were the behemoths: monsters so big they towered other everything else. They were as tall as trees, with as many paws as a centipede. They were long and fat too. She hadn’t seen too many of them before, but every time one passed she watched in fear and awe. How had the Twolegs managed to tame such gigantic beasts? 

She then wondered if Twolegs were ever killed by monsters like animals were. While she had never personally known anyone that had been struck by a monster, she knew it happened. According to Rabbitfur, being hit by a monster was one of the worst ways to go. If you were lucky, you would be killed instantly. If you weren’t… well, you would spend your last moments begging for death as you writhed in pain. 

Looking out at the monsters that passed, Mapleshade fully believed him. She began to imagine a cat, stranded in the middle of the Thunderpath, only to be struck full force by one of the metal beasts. She could envision their body being flung to the side of the Thunderpath, bloodied and broken, the light from their eyes fading as they took their last breath. At first, the cat from her imagination had been a figureless blob.

The figure then began to morph into Birchface. She could envision it clearly — his dead body lying alongside the Thunderpath, crushed beyond repair. He was dead, no doubt about it. The fur along his brown pelt was still and streaked with blood.

Her eyes then widened, and she shook the thought from her mind. No, no, no! She didn’t want Birchface to die , even if she did hate him. How could she think something so evil? 

The sound of a twig snapping interrupted Mapleshade’s thoughts. Heart and mind still racing, Mapleshade turned around. For a brief second, she had expected Birchface to be standing there. She wanted to see him for herself, to make sure that he was alright and not somehow dead. But to her dismay, an unfamiliar she-cat stood several fox lengths away. 

She was a smaller cat, with ragged brown fur tinged with flecks of orange. She had white paws and green eyes. She carried an unfamiliar scent, which made Mapleshade believe she didn’t belong to any particular Clan. She also didn’t smell like a kittypet. 

“Who are you?” Mapleshade called out, unsheathing her claws. She took a step towards the she-cat.

The she-cat’s lip curled into a snarl. Before she could say anything, the ferns beside her began to rustle and two more cats stepped out. One was a skinny gray tom, and the other was a brown tabby she-cat. Both of their pelts were ragged, and they carried the same unfamiliar scent as the first she-cat. 

“Who are you?” the brown tabby she-cat mocked, walking towards Mapleshade. 

“You’re on ThunderClan’s territory. Leave immediately.”

“I don’t think we will,” the she-cat retorted. She was dangerously close to Mapleshade now, so close in fact that either of them could reach out and claw the other across the face. It was a tempting idea to Mapleshade, but she held her ground. As scrawny as these three looked, she was still outnumbered. 

“Yes, you will,” Mapleshade hissed. 

“And who’s going to make us? Certainly not you. In case you haven’t noticed, you’re outnumbered,” the she-cat said.

“Maybe we could teach her a lesson,” the gray tom called out. “Rough her up a little bit, and send her back to the rest of those forest cats with her tail between her legs.” An amused purr rose up in his throat as he began to walk towards Mapleshade, the first she-cat trailing after him. 

Mapleshade clenched her teeth. Who did these fleabags think they were? “The only ones who will be leaving with their tail between their legs is you!” With that, she launched herself at the brown she-cat, knocking her to the ground. A surge of adrenaline flowed through her body as she blindly lashed out. 

The brown she-cat let out a scream, which Mapleshade ignored. She continued to claw at the rogue. With every swipe, her claws dug into her skin, sinking as deep as possible. She could feel blood welling around her claws, but she didn’t stop. She wasn’t going to allow these rogues to think they could push her around like this. She was going to make sure they left with a scar to remember her by. 

It wasn’t long before Mapleshade was knocked to the ground. Head spinning, she looked up to see the gray tom looming over her. Mapleshade let out a hiss and tried to stand to her feet, but the gray tom held her down. The two of them wrestled on the ground, shrieking and fur flying. The gray tom leaned down and bit Mapleshade on the ear, causing her to scream with pain. She felt a second pair of teeth biting into her tail, and a third coming to bite one of her paws.

She squirmed underneath the weight of all three cats, her eyes squeezed shut. She was afraid one of them would claw her across the eyes, blinding her. Someone had already clawed her across the cheek, a wound that stung immensely. There was also the bite to her ear, which was now bleeding profusely. She could feel the warm blood running down the side of her face and neck. 

Mapleshade continued to lash out at her attackers. She kicked out with her back legs, trying to push whoever was on top of her away until someone held down her legs. Mapleshade let out a string of curses and continued to try and fight, but it was useless. 

Finally, the weight on her body disappeared. Mapleshade let out a gasp, her eyes opening for a brief second. Her left eye was immediately filled with some of the blood that was running down from her ear, causing her to hiss with pain. She tried to lift a paw to her eye to try and clear some of the blood when she found herself being held back down. 

“How should we finish her off?” It was the gray tom who spoke, his voice cold. He dug his claws into Mapleshade’s chest. 

Mapleshade opened her eyes, blinking away some of the blood. She stared up at him, her teeth bared. “You won’t do anything,” she whispered, trying to wriggle free from his hold. 

“Think again.” The gray tom moved his other paw to Mapleshade’s throat. He pressed down hard, blocking her airway. Mapleshade’s back legs kicked out at him, meeting the soft part of his stomach. The gray tom reeled away for a second, but before Mapleshade could get to her paws, she was being held down again by all three of the rogues. 

The gray tom’s paws were at her throat again, pressing harder this time. Mapleshade continued to try and squirm, looking for any opportunity she could to free herself. It was useless. All three of them had her completely held to the ground, their grip on her only tightening. By now, Mapleshade’s lungs were beginning to scream for air. Despite all of this, she didn’t feel afraid. 

She didn’t feel much of anything, really. 

For the second time, all of the weight disappeared from Mapleshade’s body. For a split second, she began to wonder if she had somehow died. But… she could still feel her wounds. And as she paid closer attention, she could hear fighting all around her. This didn’t seem like StarClan.

Mapleshade staggered to her paws before someone could hold her down again. She wiped a paw across her eye, trying to clear some of the blood away. She then blinked several times, trying to adjust to her surroundings. She was still alive, in the same place she had been before. The rogues were still here as well, along with someone else. 

At first, Mapleshade assumed this newcomer to be another rogue. But as her vision cleared, she could make out Appledusk’s distinct features. 

Appledusk stood before the gray tom, his ears flattened to his head and his claws out. Both toms’ tails began to lash back and forth, and the fur along each of their spins was bristling. 

As Mapleshade watched, she was surprised that the two rogue she-cat’s hadn’t bothered to attack Appledusk. But as she looked around, she realized that one of them - the brown she-cat tinged with orange - had fled. The other she-cat remained near the gray tom, her own pelt bristling. 

Without thinking, Mapleshade raced toward her. She hooked her claws into the brown she-cat’s back legs, pulling her down to the ground. The she-cat twisted around onto her back, her front legs out as she tried to claw at Mapleshade. 

As they fought, Mapleshade could hear Appledusk and the gray tom begin to fight as well. From the corner of her eye, she could see Appledusk standing over the rogue giving him repeated blows to the head. Eventually, the gray tom wriggled free from Appledusk’s grip and raced off into the undergrowth.

It wasn’t long after that the brown she-cat Mapleshade had been fighting did the same. She had tried to grab onto the she-cat’s tail, yanking out a few clumps of hair in the process, before allowing the rogue to run off into the forest.

Mapleshade then collapsed to the ground, breathing hard. Her entire body ached, and the wounds on her face burned. Blood continued to fall into her eyes, making it hard to see. 

“Here,” Appledusk’s voice sounded. A moment later, Mapleshade felt something soft being pressed against her face.

Mapleshade opened one of her eyes a bit. From what she could see,  Appledusk was standing over her, a wad of cobweb in his mouth. He pressed it against her face once again. Mapleshade watched as it turned from white to red. Soon, the entire wad was soaked through with her blood. It began to drip down onto the ground.

“I’ll go get some more,” Appledusk said.

“What are you doing here?” Mapleshade demanded. 

Appledusk froze. He turned around to face her. “Helping you.”

Mapleshade swallowed. She took a small step forward. It was at this moment she realized how badly she was shaking. She didn’t know whether it was from the pain or adrenaline, but there was no time to think about this now. She had to deal with Appledusk. “I didn’t ask for your help,” she said.

“I know. You were being choked to death. Kind of hard to talk when someone’s paws are on your neck.”

The fur along Mapleshade’s neck began to bristle. She took another step forward. “Leave. Now.”

“Is this really how you’re going to repay me after I’ve saved your life?”

“ Repay you?” Mapleshade scoffed. “I don’t owe you anything! In fact, you’re lucky I’m even talking to you. Any other ThunderClan warrior would have clawed your face off for trespassing already.” Mapleshade then froze, her previous conversation with Birchface coming back to the front of her mind. The prey… the scent of RiverClan that Birchface had scented. 

“It was you ,” she hissed. “All along! Birchface was right…” 

Appledusk’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ve been stealing prey!” Mapleshade shouted as though it were obvious. “Birchface and I found some half-eaten prey nearby. He said it was RiverClan’s doing, but I thought he was mistaken. Now I see he was right all along…”

“I didn’t steal any of your prey,” Appledusk meowed. 

“You’re lying!”

“I swear on my life that I’m telling the truth,” Appledusk said.

“And why should I believe you? Every time we meet, it’s because you’re breaking the warrior code. And now you’re here at the exact same time we find that half-eaten rabbit. There’s no doubt in my mind that you’re responsible.”

“I didn’t kill that rabbit. It was those rogues. They’ve been stealing prey from us too,” Appledusk said.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Well, it’s the truth. We’ve been picking up their scent along the river for a while now. Darkstar won’t do anything about it, so I’ve decided to take matters into my own paws.” 

“By trespassing?”

“I’m sorry, but I was trying to figure out where they’ve been camped out at. Finding out where they live is the only way to deal with them,” Appledusk explained. 

“And have you had any luck?”

“No.”

“That’s because you’re a liar,” Mapleshade hissed. “Those rogues haven’t been anywhere near RiverClan, have they?” Appledusk opened his mouth to speak, but Mapleshade continued on. “Darkstar would have done something if they had been. You saw how she attacked us… how she’s been provoking us. I don’t doubt for one minute she would allow those rogues to walk all over RiverClan territory and do nothing.”

“Darkstar hasn’t done anything about it, because she’s sick,” Appledusk finally said. 

Mapleshade took a step back. She immediately remembered back to that day on Sunningrocks, where those kittens had been found. She could still envision Darkstar in her mind - how her bones poked through her unkempt fur, how dull her eyes seemed. That had been a while ago. Had Darkstar truly not recovered since then? She was also in shock that Appledusk would admit something like this to her. 

“Sick?” Mapleshade echoed. “With what?”

Appledusk grimaced. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t know why I even told you this in the first place. Sorry for trespassing. I won’t do it again.” He gave Mapleshade one last look before heading in the same direction he came from. 

Just as he was about to disappear into the undergrowth, Mapleshade called out to him. “Wait!”

Appledusk froze. He glanced over his shoulder at her but did not say anything.

“Thank you. For helping me. You didn’t have to do that. It was nice.” The words came out awkwardly, but she hoped the sentiment would be enough for him. She didn’t want to have to thank him twice. 

“It was nothing,” Appledusk muttered. He stared at her for a second more, before disappearing into the undergrowth. 

Once he was gone, Mapleshade collapsed onto the ground. She was so tired, physically and emotionally. Why did nothing ever seem to go her way? Why did she always find herself in these situations? From what she could tell, none of her Clanmates had to deal with this. Dawnfeather never had to deal with this. 

“StarClan, help me,” Mapleshade sighed. 

She laid there for a moment longer. Once she felt rested enough, Mapleshade staggered to her paws and began the long walk back to camp. Her ear had stopped bleeding by now, but it stung horribly. She would have to see Ravenwing about it as soon as she got home. 

She then wondered if Birchface had arrived back to camp yet. She assumed that he had, given how long it had been since their argument. She wondered what he was doing now. Was he still angry with her? Probably. Not that she cared.

There were more important things to think about, like what Appledusk had said.

But can I even trust anything he said? He’s a RiverClan warrior, Mapleshade thought. The enemy. 

And yet, he had saved her. This wasn’t the first time he had done such a thing for her, either. Surely he couldn’t be all bad if he had gone out of his way to do such a thing? Those rogues could have easily killed him, just as they had almost killed her. And he still didn’t back down. He fought for her as though she were one of his Clanmates. 

Then there was what he had said about Darkstar. While he hadn’t disclosed much information, Mapleshade knew what he said had to be true. 

By now, the ravine had come into view. The pain in Mapleshade’s body was more apparent as she stumbled down the rocky path that led to camp. As she approached, she could hear the sound of several voices coming from the clearing. It sounded as though Oakstar had called a meeting of some sort. 

As Mapleshade pulled herself through the gorse tunnel, the clearing went silent. She looked around, her blood running cold as the gaze of the entire Clan fell on her. Their eyes were wide with shock and fear as they gazed upon her. It was at that moment she realized that she still had blood caked across one side of her face, running down her neck and onto her shoulder. 

“Mapleshade, what happened?” Dawnfeather’s horrified cry came from somewhere in the crowd. She pushed her way through the sea of cats, running to her sister’s side. Hazelheart and Rowanfur were not far behind. 

“I got into a fight, but I’m okay,” Mapleshade tried to assure them. 

By now, Oakstar had jumped from the Highrock and was coming towards her. “You were attacked?”

“Who did this?” Hazelheart demanded. 

“Isn’t it obvious?” Birchface hissed. Mapleshade flinched at the sound of his voice, not realizing he had come to stand beside her. “It was RiverClan. Their scent is all over her.”

Mapleshade’s eyes widened. She hadn’t thought about Appledusk’s scent rubbing all over her until now. How would she explain to them that Appledusk hadn’t been attacking her, but helping her? Even if they believed her, they would still be enraged to learn a RiverClan warrior had been trespassing on their territory, thus proving Birchface’s earlier accusation to be right. 

“You’re mistaken,” Mapleshade tried to say, but by now she was being ushered towards Ravenwing’s den by her family. 

“I shouldn’t have left you. I’m sorry,” Birchface apologized. 

Mapleshade stopped. Dawnfeather tried to urge her onward, but Mapleshade stood her ground. “I don’t need your help,” she told Birchface. The fur along her neck was bristling again. 

“You can talk about this later. You need to see Ravenwing,” Hazelheart meowed. 

Mapleshade glared at Birchface for a second more. He didn’t say anything, nor did he look angry with her. He simply dipped his head to her and walked away. Once he was gone, Mapleshade turned back to her family and allowed them to escort her the rest of the way to Ravenwing’s den.

Inside, Ravenwing had already prepared an assortment of herbs. “I’ll take it from here,” he told Hazelheart. 

Hazelheart nodded and walked off. 

Once they were alone, Ravenwing began to apply a poultice to Mapleshade’s ear. “I’ve never seen a cat get hurt as much as you,” he grumbled, applying another dab of the medicine to her wound. 

Mapleshade hissed, ducking her head away from his paw. 

“Stop moving,” Ravenwing scolded. “Do you want to get better or not?”

“Sorry.” 

The den fell silent. Mapleshade closed her eyes, trying her best to remain still as Ravenwing worked. Once he was done, he took a damp bundle of cobwebs and began to rub it against the blood on her face in an attempt to wipe it away.

“Birchface told us what happened with the prey,” Ravenwing said suddenly.

Mapleshade opened her eyes. “He’s mistaken. RiverClan didn’t steal it from us. Rogues did. I saw them. They’re the ones who attacked me.”

Ravenwing stopped what he was doing. For a second, Mapleshade thought Ravenwing had stopped working in response to what she had said until she noticed another presence standing at the entrance to the den. 

Both Mapleshade and Ravenwing angled their heads toward the entrance. There, Oakstar stood. The ThunderClan leader’s head was held high as he looked toward Mapleshade. “Once you’re done here, I’d like you to come with me. There are some things we need to discuss.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Fifteen

Oakstar stood in the entrance to Ravenwing's den. The ThunderClan leader's head was held high as he looked toward Mapleshade. "Once you're done here, I'd like you to come with me. There are some things we need to discuss."

Mapleshade swallowed. Was she in trouble? No, that didn't make any sense. She hadn't done anything wrong. Yet, she found no comfort in that thought as she followed Oakstar out from Ravenwing's den and out into the forest.

The walk up the ravine was slow, Mapleshade wincing with every step she took. Oakstar remained by her side the entire walk. He encouraged her onward in a gentle voice, nudging her forward anytime she slipped or struggled to make the next step.

Finally, they reached the top. Oakstar didn't stop walking though. He gestured for Mapleshade to follow him a little further into the forest. She staggered after him but said nothing. She was too exhausted to speak.

Oakstar leaped up onto a tree stump. Mapleshade collapsed to the ground below him, breathing hard. She glanced up at Oakstar, a look in her eyes as if to ask, 'Why in the name of StarClan have you brought me out here?'

"I'm sorry to drag you all the way out here after what you've just been through, but I couldn't risk anyone overhearing our conversation." Oakstar meowed. "Birchface told me his version of events, but I'd like to hear your side of the story. Mapleshade, what happened?"

"It wasn't RiverClan who caught that prey. It was rogues," Mapleshade said, skipping over the part in the story where she had argued with Birchface. "There were three of them - two she-cats and a tom. That's who attacked me."

"I see," Oakstar meowed. He fell silent, lost in his thoughts.

For a second, Mapleshade considered explaining more of what had happened, but she decided against it. The details didn't matter right now. Either Oakstar believed what she had said, or he didn't. Explaining how the whole fight went down wouldn't change his mind.

Oakstar leaped down from the tree stump. He started walking through the forest, but it wasn't in the direction of the camp. "We're not done here. Follow me," he called out once he realized Mapleshade hadn't moved.

"Where are we going?" Mapleshade asked, stumbling after him. Her body was still aching from the fight, and all she wanted to do was lie down in her nest, but she didn't dare complain.

"We're going to take a visit to ShadowClan," Oakstar meowed.

Mapleshade let out a purr of amusement. It didn't last long though, once she realized her leader was completely serious. "ShadowClan?" she exclaimed, stopping dead in her tracks. "Why in the name of StarClan would we visit them? You heard me say it was rogues, didn't you?"

"Of course I did," Oakstar meowed. "But I'm afraid that answer won't satisfy the rest of the Clan. Birchface has them rilled up. They want RiverClan to pay for what they've done, and so we need ShadowClan's help in doing so. That is if Smokestar's up to it. If not-"

Mapleshade's heart began pounding in her chest, and she could feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through her body once more. "Pay for what they've done? And what exactly is that? If you're talking about the battle..."

"I am," Oakstar said. "That battle may have been several moons ago, but the effects from that day are still felt by the entire Clan. It doesn't help that we've had several negative encounters with RiverClan along the border since then." When Mapleshade didn't respond, Oakstar continued, "I once thought like you, Mapleshade. I thought by keeping the peace, ThunderClan would be safe and I wouldn't have to deal with the loss of another cat." A look of pain flashed in Oakstar's eyes, and Mapleshade could only assume he was thinking of Dovesong. "But I was wrong. I'm not keeping anyone safe. I'm just prolonging the inevitable. Sooner or later, Darkstar's warriors are going to come marching right back to our camp, and someone is going to die. The only question is, who will it be?"

Mapleshade stared down at her paws. Images of the last battle flashed through her mind: the stench of blood in the air, the sounds of her Clanmates screaming as they fought for their lives. And of course, Dovesong's dead body… slaughtered in the middle of the night, without care. She then imagined her own family in Dovesong's place — her parents and sister, struck down by an enemy warrior, the light faded from their eyes as they lay to the side of the clearing in a puddle of blood. The thought made Mapleshade's stomach curl.

Maybe Birchface has been right about this all along, Mapleshade thought guiltily.

"I'm sorry," Mapleshade whispered, not lifting her head.

"What are you apologizing for? You haven't done anything wrong," Oakstar said.

"Birchface says I've been a coward, and I'm beginning to think he's right. I am a coward. I thought if—"

"You're not a coward," Oakstar interrupted her. "Neither of us are. It just took us a little longer to see what others have. And now we're going to do the right thing, once and for all."

"And how are we going to do that, exactly?" Mapleshade had a feeling she already knew the answer, but she wasn't ready to admit it.

"We're going to drive RiverClan out of the forest, once and for all," Oakstar replied.

Mapleshade's eyes squeezed shut. I knew it, she thought. Her stomach did another flip, and for a second she thought she would throw up. Stop it, she then scolded herself. This is for the best. Then no one else will be in danger, and you won't have to worry about losing anyone. But no matter how many times she repeated that thought in her head, she didn't feel any better.

Oakstar continued through the forest, eventually taking the same route toward the Thunderpath that Mapleshade had walked earlier with Birchface. Specks of dried blood — her blood — dotted the ground. Every so often, Oakstar would stop to observe them, before continuing on his way.

Finally, they reached the clearing where the fight had occurred. Oakstar stood off to the side, studying the scene before him. Mapleshade hovered a few lengths behind him. She kept her head down. She didn't feel like reliving that moment for the second time that day.

Oakstar padded forward, lowering his head to sniff at a clump of bloodied brown fur. "You were right. Rogues have been through here. A RiverClan tom passed through here as well. His scent is the same that clings to your fur."

Mapleshade's head snapped up. I never told him about Appledusk, she realized in horror. "It's not what it looks like," she blurted out, limping to Oakstar's side. "His name is Appledusk, and he came to help me. I didn't ask him to come here. We're not friends. In fact, I told him off for trespassing. I meant to tell you, but I got so caught up with everything else that… I-I would never—" The words came tumbling from her lips as soon as they sprung into her mind.

Oakstar's eyes widened. "Mapleshade, calm down. I wasn't trying to accuse you of anything. I know you would never do… 'that.'" His voice took on a disgusted tone as he spat that last word. Mapleshade let out a sigh of relief.

"Come on. Let's go," Oakstar said. He turned his back to Mapleshade and began walking in the direction of the Thunderpath.

She limped after him, silently.

The edge of the forest soon came into view, and through the gaps in the trees, Mapleshade could make out the gray stone that lined the Thunderpath. It had calmed down since she was here earlier, making for an easy passage.

When they reached the opposite side of the Thunderpath, Mapleshade collapsed into the grass. She lifted a paw to her mouth, giving it a few quick licks. "Sorry," she breathed, "I'll hurry up here in a second. My paws are just stinging."

"Take your time," Oakstar reassured her. "You've had a rough day."

She flashed him a thankful look and continued to lick at her sore paw pads. Once they were bearable enough to stand on, she hobbled after him deeper into the pine forest.

The scent of ShadowClan was overwhelming here, followed by the musty scent of marshlands and pine needles. It hung in the air, thick and unbearable. Mapleshade wrinkled her nose in disgust, wondering how any cat could dare to live here.

"How much farther do you think it'll be?" she asked.

"We're still a ways off, I'm afraid," Oakstar meowed.

Mapleshade sighed.

The two of them continued through the pine trees. By now, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the ground. With every minute that passed, the forest around them grew darker. Mapleshade shivered, pressing closer to Oakstar's side. She wasn't one to be afraid of the dark, but something was unnerving about the land ShadowClan called their own.

Just then, a rustle sounded from somewhere nearby. Mapleshade tensed, unsheathing her claws.

"Oakstar?" a voice called from somewhere up ahead. It sounded confused but peaceful. Mapleshade relaxed.

Seconds later, a ShadowClan patrol appeared. There were four of them in total. In the lead, Mapleshade recognized ShadowClan's deputy, Dustcloud. Behind her stood Rosebush, Nightshade, and an unfamiliar apprentice.

"Greetings." Oakstar dipped his head to the ShadowClan patrol.

"What brings you to ShadowClan's territory?" Dustcloud asked. Her green eyes flickered back and forth between Oakstar and Mapleshade.

"I've come to speak with Smokestar," Oakstar explained.

Dustcloud frowned. "Is everything all right in ThunderClan?"

"Look at Mapleshade," Rosebush hissed to Nightshade. "She's covered in wounds."

Dustcloud's ear twitched at the sound of Rosebush's voice. The ShadowClan deputy looked at Mapleshade, her eyes widening. "What happened? Has there been another battle?"

"Just a skirmish," Oakstar said. He looked up at the sky; the sun had well disappeared below the horizon at this point, drenching the forest in darkness.

Dustcloud followed his gaze before looking back down. "Follow me," she spoke. She gestured with her tail for every cat to follow her.

Oakstar dipped his head to her, thankful for her obedience. As they walked, Oakstar fell into step beside Dustcloud. Mapleshade followed after them, with the other three ShadowClan warriors bringing up the rear. Despite how close they walked, Mapleshade didn't get a sense of animosity from the cats.

"Are you okay?" Nightshade meowed.

Mapleshade nodded. "Yeah. Just some cuts."

"Are you sure? Your ear looks like it hurts pretty bad," the unfamiliar apprentice said. He was a stocky brown-and-white tom. By the looks of it, he hadn't been an apprentice for very long.

"It does hurt, but I'll be okay."

"Did you go see your medicine cat about the pain? That's what I always do when I get hurt. Sloefur – he's our medicine cat, by the way – always takes care of me. He's great. Maybe he could take care of you too when we get back to camp?" Hailpaw meowed.

"Hailpaw, that's enough," Rosebush ordered. She gave him a stern look, causing him to shrink down.

"He's not bothering me," Mapleshade told her. "And thank you for the offer, Hailpaw, but I've already been taken care of back home. You're very considerate, though."

Hailpaw perked up a bit but said nothing more for the rest of the walk.

When they arrived at ShadowClan's camp, they were stopped by Frogleap, who stood guard at the entrance. "What's this?" he asked Dustcloud, narrowing his eyes at Oakstar and Mapleshade.

"They've come to visit Smokestar," Dustcloud explained.

"It couldn't wait until the Gathering?" Frogleap asked, his lip curling slightly.

"I'm afraid not," Oakstar said.

Frogleap's ear twitched, but he stepped aside, allowing for the group to pass through into camp.

ShadowClan's camp was much larger than Mapleshade anticipated, located in a muddy hollow surrounded by pine trees. Shallow dens were scattered across the clearing, and at the opposite side stood a large stone. It was somewhat nice, although nothing compared to the comforts of the ThunderClan camp.

Several cats were still awake, eating fresh-kill. They looked up from their meals, staring intently at the ThunderClan newcomers. They began to whisper among themselves, their voices occasionally loud enough for Mapleshade to hear.

"ThunderClan? What are they doing here?"

"Maybe Dustcloud's taken them prisoner?"

"For what? We've never had any problems with ThunderClan. And look, Oakstar's here. It must be something important."

"I'll be right back," Dustcloud promised, returning Mapleshade's attention to her. She slipped away from the crowd and disappeared beneath the roots of an oak tree. She returned a moment later with Smokestar in tow.

Smokestar approached them, his tail high in the air. He had a friendly gleam in his eyes as he brushed against Oakstar. "Greetings! What brings you to ShadowClan so late at night, old friend?" he purred.

"I've come to discuss something with you. Preferably out of earshot," Oakstar explained.

"Of course. Follow me." Smokestar began walking back towards the camp entrance. Oakstar and Mapleshade followed after him, along with Dustcloud. They followed Smokestar through the pitch-black forest for a way, until the ShadowClan leader stopped by a boulder.

He settled down onto the ground beside the rock, giving his pelt a couple of licks. "So," he began, "what's going on?"

"As you know, ThunderClan has been having trouble with RiverClan for many seasons now," Oakstar began. "I've tried to solve this problem on my own, but things are only getting worse. They've started hunting on our territory. They attacked Mapleshade earlier today when confronted about it. Just look at her wounds. They would have killed her, had my son not intervened."

Mapleshade's stomach dropped. That wasn't the truth at all! It hadn't been RiverClan who attacked her, but Oakstar already knew that. He was deliberately lying. She looked down at her paws, trying to stay calm.

Smokestar didn't say anything at first. From what Mapleshade could see, the ShadowClan leader had a thoughtful expression on his face as he took in Oakstar's words. "What do you expect me to do about this?" he asked.

Mapleshade's eyes widened at Smokestar's harsh words. She looked at Oakstar, wondering what he was thinking, but if Oakstar was offended he didn't let it show. He let out a brisk purr, letting Smokestar's words roll off his back. "I've come to ask your help to drive RiverClan from the forest," Oakstar said.

Dustcloud let out a gasp from beside Mapleshade.

Smokestar seemed equally surprised, but before he could say anything Oakstar continued. "I know ShadowClan has been having similar problems with RiverClan. If you help me, all of our troubles will be solved. Please consider what I'm saying to you."

"You're asking a lot of me here, Oakstar. You know I'm tired of RiverClan's behavior. We all are. But to drive them from the forest entirely? Surely there's something else we can do about this…" Smokestar argued.

Oakstar shook his head. "I'm afraid there's not. I've already tried everything else, but nothing works. I'm not going to let RiverClan run amok any longer. They've already taken enough from me." He tried to seem strong, but Mapleshade could hear his voice quivering.

Smokestar sighed. "I can't give you an answer tonight. I need to think about it."

"I understand. I realize this is a large request, but I assure you the results will be worth it."

"Have you talked to Sablestar about this?" Smokestar asked.

The fur along Oakstar's neck began to bristle. Mapleshade eyed him, confused. "You know I can't talk to her about this," Oakstar snapped.

"Why not? If any cat would help you, it's her," Smokestar argued.

"I don't want her help," Oakstar hissed.

Mapleshade blinked, alarmed by Oakstar's sudden aggression. Sure, Smokestar's answer probably wasn't what Oakstar had wanted, but surely that remark wasn't enough to provoke the ThunderClan leader to anger. There had to be another reason for it, but what?

"Dustcloud, would you please escort Mapleshade back to the border for me? I need to speak with Smokestar alone," Oakstar asked.

"Oakstar, is everything all right?" Mapleshade asked.

"Everything is fine. I'll see you back at camp," Oakstar meowed.

Mapleshade frowned. She knew that wasn't the truth, but she couldn't confront him about it. Not here at least. Dipping her head to Oakstar, she followed Dustcloud in the direction of the border.

She was just about to disappear out of earshot when she heard Oakstar let out a shout. Mapleshade tensed. Were Oakstar and Smokestar fighting? She began to retrace her steps, careful not to make a noise.

Crouching underneath a bunch of ferns, Mapleshade strained her ears. To her relief, Smokestar and Oakstar hadn't been physically fighting one another as she had once feared, but things didn't seem to be going well between them. Oakstar stood a few mouse-lengths in front of Smokestar, the fur on his body fluffed out angrily. His tail was beginning to lash back and forth, and his ears were flattened against his head. Smokestar leaned away from him, his own fur prickling.

"You can't keep holding that against her. You know she can't help being half-Clan." That was Smokestar's voice.

"I don't care. It doesn't change how I feel. I will never acknowledge her as my sister, regardless if we share kin or not," Oakstar's reply was quick and harsh.

As Mapleshade listened to their conversation, she could feel her heartbeat begin to race. What were they talking about? As far as Mapleshade knew, Oakstar didn't have any siblings. And then there was what Smokestar had mentioned, about someone being half-Clan…

"Mapleshade?"

Mapleshade flinched. Spinning around, she saw Dustcloud standing there. The ShadowClan deputy had a confused look on her face as she looked down at Mapleshade.

"Sorry," Mapleshade apologized. She stood up, giving the fur on her chest a couple of nervous licks.

Dustcloud flicked an ear. "Follow me, please."

Once again, Mapleshade walked with Dustcloud towards the Thunderpath. Every so often, Dustcloud would try to make polite small talk with Mapleshade, but the conversation always died out quickly. She wasn't in the mood to talk anyways. The only thing on her mind was what she had overheard between Oakstar and Smokestar.

I must have misunderstood, Mapleshade thought. Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that wasn't the case.

When they finally reached the border, Dustcloud hesitated near the edge of the forest. "Would you like me to escort you across the Thunderpath?" she asked.

Mapleshade shook her head. "No, thank you. Just give me a couple of minutes to rest, and I'll be able to make it across by myself."

"Are you sure? I don't mind."

Mapleshade nodded. "Yeah. I can manage on my own."

I hope I can, anyway, Mapleshade thought. Her entire body ached as she settled down, trying to recuperate. Why did Oakstar have to make this trip today? Why couldn't he have waited until tomorrow?

"I think I'm ready now," Mapleshade said, staggering to her paws. She thanked Dustcloud once more and began hobbling toward the Thunderpath.

To her relief, the Thunderpath was silent. Creeping towards the edge, Mapleshade looked both ways and pressed a paw to the sharp black stone. She didn't see any oncoming monsters or feel any vibrations, which meant it was safe to cross.

As quickly as she could, Mapleshade hurried across. The pain she felt in her paws only increased with each step, but there was no time to stop.

When she reached the safety of the forest, Mapleshade let out a sigh of relief. She laid down in the grass, closing her eyes for just a moment…

"Mapleshade," a voice called, followed by several pokes.

Mapleshade squeezed her eyes tighter. Go away.

"Mapleshade!"

Mapleshade's eyes shot open. She could feel sharp blades of grass poking at her face and body. Scrambling to her paws, she then noticed Oakstar standing there.

"Wha… What happened?" she asked, groggily. She looked around, horrified to see that she had been lying close to the Thunderpath.

"You must have fallen asleep," Oakstar explained. "Let's move away from here, quickly."

Mapleshade nodded and hurried deeper into the forest. As they walked, she noticed rays of pink light appearing through the tree line. She had slept until morning.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep," she apologized.

"It's okay. I should have been more considerate of your condition than leave you alone like that," Oakstar meowed. "How are you feeling now?"

"Tired," Mapleshade admitted. The pain in her body seemed slightly better. Her ear was still throbbing terribly, but everything else seemed manageable. She knew that with more sleep (and a visit to Ravenwing) she would be recovered in no time.

"I'll make sure you're excused from your duties today," Oakstar promised.

"Thank you, Oakstar," Mapleshade said.

"And thank you for coming with me. I realize I've asked a lot of you today and pushed you more than I should have. Especially since things didn't go exactly how I planned," Oakstar muttered the last part under his breath. An irritated look crossed his face.

"Smokestar doesn't want to help?" Mapleshade asked.

"He wants more time to think about it," Oakstar said.

"Oh."

The conversation she had overheard between the two leaders flashed through Mapleshade's mind again. She wanted to ask Oakstar about it so that she could make sense of things, but she knew it wasn't her place.

"What's wrong? You look troubled," Oakstar said, interrupting Mapleshade's thoughts.

Mapleshade stopped walking. Should I?

"If you have something to say, then say it. Don't hold your tongue," Oakstar commanded.

Mapleshade took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, but I overheard a bit of your conversation with Smokestar. I heard the two of you mention some cat being half-Clan and something about you having a sister. I know I probably just misunderstood, but..."

She dug her claws into the ground, bracing herself for the worst, but when she looked up at Oakstar's face, there was no hint of animosity present.

"You didn't misunderstand anything," Oakstar said. He looked off into the distance, not saying anything for a second. "Very few cats know this, but the truth is… Sablestar of WindClan is my half-sister. I'm not proud of that fact, but I trust you."

An involuntary gasp left Mapleshade's mouth before she could think. Sablestar was Oakstar's half-sister? How could that be? But the more she thought about it, the less surprised she felt. She had always heard rumors about Sablestar's parentage, but she always assumed them to be just that – rumors. Yet now that she knew the truth, she couldn't deny the similarities between the two cats. They had the same brown pelt and similar builds. The only differences between the two were their eye colors, and Sablestar's legs being longer.

"Before I was born, my father became infatuated with a WindClan warrior. Her name was Sorrelwind, and she was the daughter of WindClan's leader. I don't know how long they knew each other, or how serious their relationship was, but eventually, Sorrelwind became pregnant. My father had just become deputy, so when he heard the news, he was afraid his reputation would be ruined and he would lose his position. He quickly took a mate in ThunderClan – Thistleflower, my mother. Soon after, I was born. Even though my father never loved my mother, he felt guilty for using her. He eventually confessed the truth to her. She took the news well and said that she didn't mind what my father did since the blood of ThunderClan's leaders ran through her kit's blood. She promised to keep his secret, as long as he agreed to stay with her," Oakstar explained.

A flash of pain crossed Oakstar's face as he continued, "Despite this, my parent's relationship was strained. They tried their best to be good parents, but I always knew something wasn't right between them. It wasn't until I got older that I figured out why. One day during a Gathering, Sablestar – she was still a warrior at this time – approached me. She told me that we were half-siblings and shared the same father. I didn't believe her at first. Why should I? My father was the most loyal cat I knew, or so I thought. Despite my faith in him, I couldn't let Sablestar's words go. I eventually confronted him about what she had said, and he confirmed it. He told me everything I've told you tonight," Oakstar meowed.

Mapleshade was silent for a few moments. "Thank you for telling this to me."

"You're welcome, Mapleshade. But you must promise to keep this between us. I know there are rumors about Sablestar floating around, but no cat can know the full story," Oakstar ordered.

"I would never tell anyone, I swear," Mapleshade vowed.

"Good. My father may walk with StarClan now, but I don't want his reputation to suffer from his immoral actions," Oakstar said.

A wave of unease washed over Mapleshade. "Immoral…?"

"Yes. Nothing good can ever come from a half-Clan relationship. It can only cause pain and heartbreak for all involved and leaves the kits confused and torn between two different worlds. It goes directly against the warrior code, and what StarClan has ordained for us. If they wanted the Clans to mingle together, they would have never split us apart to begin with. While I respect Sablestar as leader of WindClan, she should have never been born," Oakstar said. He had a faraway look in his eyes, and the fur along his neck and back was starting to bristle.

Mapleshade's ears flattened to her head. Isn't that a bit harsh? she thought. It wasn't Sablestar's fault her parents came from two separate Clans, so to say she should have never been born…

"Thank you for listening to my story." Oakstar's voice shook Mapleshade from her thoughts. Looking up, she saw that he seemed to have calmed down.

"Yes. Of course." She tried to fake a cheerful tone but failed miserably.

"Let's go home. I've kept you out long enough," Oakstar said.

The sun had fully risen over the horizon, casting pink and orange light across the forest. It was the complete opposite of the dark and gloomy feeling Mapleshade now felt inside.

Chapter Text

Chapter Sixteen

While I respect Sablestar as leader of WindClan, she should have never been born.

Oakstar’s words repeated in Mapleshade’s mind the entire walk home.  Each time, a sick feeling she couldn’t get rid of washed over her.

Sablestar’s existence – and every other cat just like her – went directly against the warrior code, the very law that held the four Clans together. If the entire forest found out the truth, Mapleshade knew they would agree with Oakstar on the matter.

I can’t help but think that’s not right, though, Mapleshade thought. Sablestar didn’t choose to be half-Clan. She shouldn’t be punished or shamed for what some other cat did. Nor should any other cat like her.

Mapleshade glanced at Oakstar. She wondered what kind of relationship Oakstar would have had with Sablestar if things had been different, and the warrior code didn’t exist. She then thought of Dawnfeather, and how close they were. Would Oakstar want to spend time with Sablestar like that? Did he ever regret not being able to? 

I wonder how different the forest would be if the warrior code didn’t exist. We wouldn’t have to fight one another over resources anymore. We could live in peace.

Appledusk’s face popped into her mind. He wasn’t her friend by any means, but he was the only cat outside of ThunderClan she somewhat knew. If the warrior code didn’t exist, how different would things be between them?

A wave of guilt washed over Mapleshade. I shouldn’t be thinking things like this. StarClan gave us the warrior code for a reason. It isn’t right to go against it.

She looked at Oakstar again, thankful that he couldn’t read her mind. 

And yet, those feelings secretly harbored in the back of her heart. Tucked so far away, that not even Mapleshade herself realized it. 

The sun was high in the blue, cloudless sky as Mapleshade and Oakstar finally arrived back at camp. 

Since most of the patrols had already gone out hours earlier, everything was quiet. The few cats that remained in camp lifted their heads, their eyes sparkling as soon as they noticed their leader’s return.

“Welcome home!” Sweetbriar exclaimed, bounding over to Oakstar. 

“Thank you. I assume everything went smoothly while I was away?” Oakstar asked.

Sweetbriar nodded. “Not a single fur out of place,” she assured him. 

“Good, good.” Oakstar went quiet for a second, his eyes scanning the clearing. “Is Beetail out on patrol?”

“Yes. He took Rowanfur, Birchface, and Goldenmist hunting towards Fourtrees. They left early this morning, so they should be coming back any moment now.”

“I hope they won’t run into any trouble,” Oakstar sighed. 

Sweetbriar frowned. “I’m sure everything will be alright. Hey, have you eaten yet? Whitefoot caught a huge squirrel this morning. We could share it if you’d like,” she offered.

“That would be nice. Thank you.”

Oakstar bid Mapleshade goodbye and followed Sweetbriar over to the fresh-kill pile. 

Mapleshade contemplated getting something to eat for herself, but she decided against it. She was beyond exhausted, every part of her body aching with a pain she had never felt before. 

Too tired to even make it to the warrior's den, she curled up beneath a clump of ferns towards the edge of camp and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

The next week passed without much incident. 

There was no sign of RiverClan, or of the rogues that had attacked Mapleshade. Oakstar had made sure to send extra patrols out towards Snakerocks, in hopes of catching any trespassers, but their scent had gone stale long ago. 

There was also no word from Smokestar. While Mapleshade hadn’t spoken to Oakstar since she had traveled to ShadowClan with him, she could tell just by observing him that he was growing impatient. 

Mapleshade’s stomach churned as she wondered what Oakstar would do next. Would he give up on trying to drive RiverClan from the forest, or would he try something even more reckless: trying to drive them out by himself? 

A shiver ran down Mapleshade’s spine, and she willed herself to push the thought away. 

Focusing on the task ahead of her, Mapleshade bounded after Oakstar and Cherrypetal in the direction of Fourtrees. She had been given the clear this morning, allowing her to tag along on the dawn patrol. 

“Feels good to get out of camp for a while, doesn’t it, Mapleshade?” Cherrypetal purred, stopping to sharpen her claws against a tree. 

“When’s the last time you left camp?” Oakstar asked.

Cherrypetal went silent, tilting her head back in thought. “Oh StarClan, I couldn’t even tell you. At least a moon. No, wait, Deerdapple and I went to collect moss for the nursery…”

Mapleshade’s whiskers twitched in amusement, but she quickly tuned out their conversation. She walked ahead, marking some trees as she went. ThunderClan’s scent was still strong in the air, but Oakstar was determined to keep the borders marked. He wanted to send RiverClan a message: ThunderClan was strong and vigilant, and they would not tolerate trespassing. 

“Deerkit and Doekit will be apprenticed before you know it.” Mapleshade heard Oakstar say. He then sighed. “Our Clan has gone far too long without them.”

“Well, like you said, there will be a whole den of apprentices before you know it. I know all the kits are eager for their training. Crowkit’s already practicing her hunting crouch,” Cherrypetal meowed. 

“That’s what I like to hear.”

“Embershine’s proud as can be. She tried to teach Stormkit the same thing, but…”

Mapleshade tuned out of the conversation again. 

The three of them continued toward Fourtrees. 

Just as Mapleshade was about to walk down into the clearing, a bone-chilling scream split the air, causing her stomach to lurch. She whipped around, claws unsheathed, but to her surprise, Oakstar and Cherrypetal stood unharmed. 

“What was that?” Mapleshade hissed.

“I don’t know. It sounds like it was coming from over there,” Cherrypetal said, bounding away in the direction of the Thunderpath.

Mapleshade and Oakstar followed her, picking up the pace as the screams grew louder and more frequent. 

Oakstar crawled under a holly tree, pressing his belly to the ground as he peered up ahead. Mapleshade copied him, hanging a few tail-lengths back. Through the branches, she could make out a group of cats surrounding a ginger-and-white shape. Off to the side, a black cat crouched, wailing desperately as a tortoiseshell she-cat clung to his back.

“That’s Sloefur!” Cherrypetal exclaimed.

Without hesitation, Oakstar burst out from under the holly, charging at the group of cats. Mapleshade and Cherrypetal followed, launching themselves into battle.

Mapleshade grabbed a scrawny ginger tom from behind, pulling him onto the ground. He let out a startled cry, peering up at Mapleshade in complete shock.

At first, she didn’t take him as anything other than a rogue. A strange scent she couldn’t place clung to his ragged, unkempt fur. But as the two of them began to fight, Mapleshade realized this was Creekstep of RiverClan.

They’ve resorted to attacking medicine cats now? Mapleshade thought angrily as she dealt another blow to Creekstep’s shoulder. On ThunderClan’s territory, no less!

The fight didn’t last long. Creekstep pulled away from Mapleshade and retreated into the undergrowth, the rest of the cats following not long after.

Mapleshade turned her attention back toward Sloefur, who crouched over the unmoving body of Mudpool, his apprentice. He rubbed a paw up and down her ribs, hoping to find a heartbeat, but there was none.

“She walks with StarClan now,” Sloefur sighed, crumpling to the ground. 

“I’m so sorry,” Oakstar murmured, bowing his head. The forest was quiet for several moments as the cats mourned for Mudpool. While Mapleshade didn’t know her, the loss of a medicine cat was always hard, no matter what Clan. They were sacred cats, chosen by StarClan themselves. So for RiverClan to slay one so thoughtlessly? It was unthinkable. 

“Can you tell us what happened?” Mapleshade asked.

Sloefur lifted his head. “We had just traveled to Mothermouth to share tongues with StarClan. We stopped to take a break and look for herbs when we were attacked. They were ruthless. I’ve seen many battles in my lifetime, but none quite like this. It was as though they were trying to kill us. And as you can see…”

“They succeeded,” Oakstar finished, scowling. 

“Yes.” Sloefur sighed again. 

“It was RiverClan,” Mapleshade spoke up.

“RiverClan?” Sloefur’s eyes widened in horror. “Are you positive? I didn’t recognize any of them.”

“I’m positive. I chased off Creekstep. At first, I didn’t recognize him, but I have no doubts in my mind,” Mapleshade said.

“Thank StarClan I’m not going crazy,” Cherrypetal spoke up. “I knew I was fighting Carpclaw, but he didn’t smell like any RiverClan cat I knew.”

“There were rogues with them. I recognize the scent. They’re the same ones who attacked you, Mapleshade. Maybe not the same cats, but they come from the same group,” Oakstar said.

Mapleshade was quiet as she pondered Oakstar’s words. Now that he said that, she had to admit there was something oddly familiar about Creekstep’s scent. But if RiverClan was working together with the rogues, why had Appledusk helped her that day? 

Mapleshade’s mind whirled as she thought back to every recent encounter with RiverClan. How out of control their warriors seemed to be, how frail Darkstar had been at Sunningrocks, the rogues…

I didn’t kill that rabbit. It was those rogues. They’ve been stealing prey from us too

We’ve been picking up their scent along the river for a while now. Darkstar won’t do anything about it,

She’s sick.

Appledusk’s words echoed in her mind repeatedly. 

“I think the rogues have taken over RiverClan,” Mapleshade spoke up.

Oakstar stared at her, his ears flattened against his head. “Taken over, or allowed in? If Creekstep and Carpclaw were working together with the rogues, it seems to me as though they’re allies. There was a RiverClan warrior with the rogues last time as well — Appledusk, I believe you said his name was?”

Mapleshade nodded, lowering her gaze.

“Why would RiverClan be working with rogues? Have they no shame?” Cherrypetal hissed.

“Of course they don’t! Look at how those bloated fish-eaters behave! They’ve desecrated the warrior code and everything it stands for. Killing warriors isn’t good enough for them anymore. Now they’ve resorted to murdering medicine cats,” Oakstar raged. 

Mapleshade looked back at Sloefur. The ShadowClan medicine cat was prodding at craps of herbs that were scattered across the ground.

“Do you want help?” she asked, walking up to him.

Sloefur shook his head. “These are useless now. Besides, I have other things to take care of now…” He looked at Mudpool’s body, sighing.

“Do you want me to help you carry her home?” Mapleshade offered.

“ThunderClan will escort you back to your camp if you’d like,” Oakstar said.

“Thank you, but this is ShadowClan’s matter.” Sloefur looked as though he wanted to say something else, but he held back.

“Of course. I understand.” 

Sloefur dipped his head. “Have your warriors ready. I imagine Smokestar will be visiting you tomorrow.”

Oakstar’s whiskers twitched. “Noted. Tell him I said thank you.”

Sloefur nodded. He then picked Mudpool up by the scruff, dragging her body into the undergrowth in the direction of the Thunderpath.

Once he was out of earshot, Cherrypetal gave Oakstar a panicked expression. “What did he mean by that?” 

“ShadowClan is going to help us drive RiverClan from the forest once and for all!” Oakstar yowled, his voice echoing throughout the clearing.

Several pairs of eyes reflected in the faint moonlight as the cats of ThunderClan gazed up at their leader. He sat high above them, perched on the edge of the Highrock as he continued his speech.

Just as Sloefur had predicted, Smokestar had come to speak with Oakstar, agreeing to help him drive RiverClan from the forest once and for all. While Mapleshade hadn’t been privy to the conversation, she could assume what was said. Smokestar was furious, and he wouldn't allow RiverClan's misdeeds to go unpunished any longer.

“We will not stop until RiverClan is gone. And when that day comes, the forest will change forever,” Oakstar continued. “No cat will ever lose their life in an unnecessary battle. No cat will ever have to starve to death. There will be no more hatred between the Clans. There will be peace!”

Cheers erupted throughout the clearing. 

Mapleshade stayed silent. 

Chapter Text

Chapter Seventeen

Thick rain clouds covered the night sky, blotting out the stars. The wind whipped the reeds along the river bank, as the cats of ThunderClan and ShadowClan marched steadily toward RiverClan’s camp. 

Suddenly, Oakstar stopped. He turned to face his warriors, a solemn look on his face. He then lifted his muzzle towards the sky and whispered, “StarClan, walk beside us tonight. Give our warriors strength and protection. May their claws be sharp, and their legs swift. Let every one of them return home safely.”

Smokestar nodded in agreement, adding in a prayer himself.

Mapleshade’s mind was unusually quiet as she stood there. She’d had a general sense of apathy about her for the last several days, ever since Mudpool had been killed. Perhaps it was because she knew this battle was something that had been coming for a long while now. RiverClan had caused trouble in the forest since before she had been kitted. And as she grew up and became a warrior herself, she had seen time and time again what they were capable of. They were out of control and didn’t seem to care about the warrior code in the same way the other Clans did.

I can’t believe I defended them. 

Guilt pricked in her stomach as she shot a glance at Birchface. He was facing forward, unaware of the look she gave him. 

Sighing, Mapleshade lowered her head, giving her own prayer to StarClan.

From there, the two Clans split into groups of four. The scent of rogues became overwhelming as Mapleshade’s group moved deeper into RiverClan’s territory. Their scent coated every reed and willow tree. A few tail-lengths later, the group stumbled across the rotting remains of a rabbit, the stench of crowfood filling the air.

“Yuck,” Icestorm of ShadowClan remarked, wrinkling her nose. “How can RiverClan live like this?”

Ashfeather snorted. “I’m not surprised those overweight fish-breaths would choose to live like this. Just look what they’ve done!”

“Yeah, well it won’t be long until they’re gone for good. Then we can take some of their territory for our own,” Mossheart mewed.

Mapleshade shot Deerdapple a look, but neither she-cat said anything.

By the time the group arrived at RiverClan’s camp, the sound of shrieking cats filled the air. Mapleshade, Seedpelt, and Mossheart worked to rip a hole in the reeds surrounding the camp, allowing the rest of the group to squeeze through.

Mapleshade hung back, allowing the others to go ahead of her. She then squeezed through, her eyes scanning the clearing for the perfect target. Bounding forward, she bowled Splashfoot over, sinking her claws into his back leg. 

As the two of them tussled, Splashfoot rolled onto his back. His back legs moved under Mapleshade’s stomach, kicking furiously. Mapleshade let out a shriek of pain as his back claws sank into her soft stomach, causing her to pull away. 

Splashfoot stood up, arching his back. Mapleshade barred her teeth at him, her tail lashing. As the two of them stood there, drizzle began to fall. 

Mapleshade launched herself at Splashfoot again. He moved to the side, causing Mapleshade to slip on the slick ground. The rain had picked up now, soaking both of them completely.

Beads of water rolled into Mapleshade’s eyes as she twisted around. She blinked back the drops of water, trying to keep her vision locked on Splashfoot. 

But as a bolt of lightning illuminated the clearing, something in the distance made Mapleshade freeze.

At the far end of the clearing, a stream of cats began pouring into RiverClan’s camp. Their scent was unmistakable — rogue. Mapleshade watched in horror as they joined the battle, ruthlessly attacking anyone who stood in their way. Their presence had evened out the fight,

In that moment of distraction, Splashfoot jumped onto Mapleshade’s back, slamming her against the muddy ground. Before she could move, several cats trampled her as they made their way across the clearing to join the battle.

Yowling, Mapleshade stumbled to her paws. She stood there, completely soaked, as the rain grew stronger. To her surprise, Splashfoot was gone. 

Mapleshade took a step back, glancing around for any sign of the RiverClan tom, but he was nowhere to be found. It was at that moment she spotted Birchface, locked in battle against one of the rogues. Birchface landed a blow on the rogue’s shoulder before twisting around to bite her hind leg. The small tortoiseshell tried to put up a fight, but she was no match for Birchface’s size or strength. Pulling away from him, she stumbled blindly into the reeds, leaving Birchface alone.

Mapleshade watched in admiration as Birchface stood there, his sides heaving. Just as he moved to find another opponent, the sky lit up with another bolt of lightning, illuminating a third cat who had been waiting in the shadows, unnoticed.

The newcomer limped towards Birchface, one paw lifted in the air. Something red dripped from her paw, and at first, Mapleshade thought it was blood.

Mapleshade was tackled to the ground. Twisting her head around, she found herself locked in battle with a rogue tom. She clawed blindly at him, drops of rain falling into her eyes. As the two of them fought, she caught another glimpse at Birchface. 

To her surprise, several other rogues had appeared. They held Birchface down, while the limping she-cat stood over his head, her blood-soaked paw still lifted in the air. She lowered her paw to Birchface’s mouth, smearing the blood across his muzzle and onto his tongue. His eyes widened, and he began to convulse, foaming at the mouth. 

It was at that moment, that Mapleshade realized with horror, that it wasn’t blood that dripped from the rogue’s paw. It was deathberries!

“Birchface!” Mapleshade shrieked. 

Kicking her attacker away, Mapleshade raced towards Birchface. She leaped onto the rogue’s back, the two of them tumbling into the reeds outside of camp.

The she-cat stared up at Mapleshade, stunned. Her expression quickly turned to fury as she clawed at Mapleshade’s muzzle, aiming for her mouth. Mapleshade made sure to keep her jaw closed, turning her head away every time the she-cat aimed for her face. 

As the two of them fought, Mapleshade found herself cornered against a boulder. Her assailant stood in front of her, tail lashing. She crouched down, haunches wiggling slightly, before launching herself at Mapleshade again.

Mapleshade rolled out of the way, causing the rogue to crash into the rocks behind her. Leaping to her paws, Mapleshade pinned the rogue down. Mapleshade glanced down at the she-cat’s poison-soaked paw, and a wave of fury washed over her. Birchface was potentially dead because of her!

Mapleshade hooked her claws into the she-cat’s pelt, picking her up and slamming her down against the rocks. The rogue let out a shriek, but Mapleshade paid no mind to it. She slammed the she-cat’s head against the rock over and over. All of the pent-up anger and frustration she’d felt over the last several moons came coursing out of her as she continued slamming the rogue she-cat’s head against the rocks.

The rogue she-cat’s attacks grew weaker and weaker, and it was several moments later that Mapleshade realized she had gone completely limp. She stepped back, eyes widening as she realized what she had done. 

The rogue’s body slumped against the rocks, unmoving. Her flanks were still. As rain poured from the sky, a trail of red liquid ran from the she-cat’s body, down the rocks, but this time it wasn’t deathberries. 

I killed her.

Mapleshade stared at the body, stunned. She then fled back the way she had come, bursting through the reeds that lined RiverClan’s camp.

The fighting had died down slightly by the time Mapleshade returned. Her heart sank into her stomach as soon as she spotted Birchface, lying in the same spot she had seen him last. The rogues were gone, replaced by Goldenmist and Echostorm. 

“Is he dead?” Mapleshade shrieked, racing to his side. 

“Not yet,” Echostorm meowed. She grabbed a leaf and stuck her paw into Birchface’s mouth.

“What are you doing?” Mapleshade cried out, unsheathing her claws.

“Relax. I’m trying to wipe as much poison from his tongue as I can,” Echostorm explained. She pulled the leaf out, carefully discarding it to the side. She then placed another herb into Birchface’s mouth, tilting his head back, forcing him to swallow. “That’s to make him vomit.”

“Why are you helping him?” Mapleshade demanded. She shot Goldenmist a worried look, wondering how her Clanmate could be so calm. Echostorm had no reason to help Birchface after what ThunderClan had done.

“It’s okay, Mapleshade. I trust her,” Goldenmist said softly. Despite her words, there was a distraught look in her eyes as she watched Echostorm work.

Moments later, Birchface lurched, and he began to throw up. 

Mapleshade looked away, her heart twisting with pain as Birchface writhed on the ground in pain. Goldenmist and Echostorm hovered over him, trying to smooth his rain-soaked pelt down with their paws in a comforting manner, but Birchface's mind was far away. Another stream of vomit came from his mouth. 

“Mapleshade, go find Oakstar!” Goldenmist urged. 

Mapleshade stared down at Birchface. “You’re going to be okay,” she whispered to him, bending down to touch her nose to his fur. 

“Hurry!”

Mapleshade lingered for another second before darting away. She scanned the clearing for any sign of Oakstar, but was impossible to make out which cat was which in the darkness and rain.

“Oakstar!” Mapleshade called as she weaved through the crowd of fighting cats. 

She was growing weary now. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could go on, but she knew she had to find Oakstar. If Birchface was dying, Oakstar deserved to be there.

“Is your little mate dying? How sad,” a voice sneered.

Mapleshade turned around to see Reedshine standing there. The two she-cats stared each other down, neither of them daring to make the first move. As Mapleshade looked her over, she could tell Reedshine was just as exhausted as she was. “Get away from me,” Mapleshade hissed.

“Why should I? This is my camp!” Reedshine spat.

“I don’t want to fight you. Now move on,” Mapleshade said.

Reedshine’s tail lashed, but she didn't attack. “I hope he dies,” she growled, taking a step back. She then turned and disappeared into the thick of the battle, leaving Mapleshade alone to look for Oakstar.

The rain had stopped falling by the time Mapleshade found Oakstar. The two of them limped across RiverClan’s camp to where Birchface lay. He was still alive, but his breathing was ragged. 

Oakstar buried his face into his son’s fur, whispering something. As he lifted his head to the sky, a heart-wrenching scream filled the air, but it didn’t come from Oakstar. The entire clearing went silent, shocked by the sudden outburst.

Spinning around, Mapleshade spotted a dark tortoiseshell she-cat dragging a limp body into camp. Mapleshade’s heart lurched as she recognized the body of the rogue she had just killed.

“Foxglove is dead!” the she-cat cried out. 

Screams of grief and outrage filled the clearing, coming from the rogues. Several of them limped forward, gathering around their dead leader’s body.

“You did this! You promised you would give us a home, and you betrayed us!” the dark tortoiseshell screeched. 

“We never promised you anything!” Spiketail spat, pushing his way through the crowd. He stood nose-to-nose with the tortoiseshell, and for a minute, Mapleshade thought he might attack. 

“When my mother—”

“Foxglove is dead. Whatever agreement she and Darkstar made is void. Now take your cats, and leave RiverClan’s territory at once,” Spiketail ordered. He whipped his head around the clearing as he shouted, “That goes for any RiverClan warrior in support of Foxglove. You’re not welcome here anymore.”

“You don’t get to make that decision. Darkstar does!” the tortoiseshell she-cat hissed.

“And as Darkstar’s deputy, I’m telling you to leave, unless you’d like to take a trip to see your mother.”

"How dare you!"

“Come on, Ramona,” a white she-cat with gray flecks mewed, nudging the tortoiseshell she-cat away from Spiketail.

Ramona stood her ground, ignoring the white she-cat. She continued to stare Spiketail down. “RiverClan made a promise to my group, and you failed to keep it. Now my mother is dead. Don’t think we will forget about this. You may not pay with your life today, but soon enough we’ll be coming for you.”

Spiketail flicked an ear. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“Come, Ramona. We must bury Foxglove before sunrise,” the white she-cat urged.

Ramona shot Spiketail one more glare before picking Foxglove up by the scruff. Several rogues moved to help her, carrying the body out of RiverClan’s camp. The other rogues slipped out after them, hissing at the Clan cats they passed on their way out. 

Once they were gone, Smokestar limped up. “What in the name of StarClan is going on?” he demanded, tail lashing.

Spiketail glared at him. “This is none of ShadowClan or ThunderClan’s concern. Now leave our camp immediately!”

“I think my Clan has the right to know, considering your actions cost us one of our medicine cats!” Smokestar hissed, thrusting his muzzle into Spiketail’s face.

Several cries of agreement broke out amongst the crowd.

“Where is Darkstar in all of this?” Deerdapple cried out. 

“Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen her once!” someone else yowled.

The fur on the back of Spiketail’s neck began to bristle. He was about to say something when Appledusk spoke up. “Tell them the truth, Spiketail. They deserve to know. The rogues have affected them just as much as they’ve affected us.”

“My son walks between the living and StarClan because of RiverClan. Tell us the truth, or I’ll flay you and Darkstar nine times over if I have to!” Oakstar yowled. He left Birchface’s side and stood next to Smokestar, his claws unsheathed.

Spiketail flinched but reluctantly gave in. “Several seasons ago, amid an unusually harsh leaf-bare, an unknown illness spread through RiverClan. It claimed many of our best warriors. As if sent by StarClan, Foxglove and her rogues appeared, promising a cure. She was a skilled healer, knowledgeable about herbs and treatments no Clan cat knew of. She saved our Clan, and in return, Darkstar allowed her cats to take up residency in our territory. It wasn’t enough for them, though. They wanted more land, more prey… We tried to teach them the warrior code, but they refused. The young, healthy cats would take prey from our kits and elders, without contributing anything in return. They started crossing the borders-”

Oakstar’s fur began to bristle. “And Darkstar sat back and did nothing!”

“Foxglove poisoned Darkstar!” Spiketail spat. “She would sneak strange herbs into her prey, leaving her confused and disoriented. She started seeing things that weren’t there, and Foxglove would feed into the delusions claiming them to be visions from StarClan.”

“I tried to find the antidote, but I was unsuccessful,” Echostorm spoke up. 

Spiketail nodded. “In the meantime, Darkstar believed everything to be true. She trusted Foxglove. Nothing I said or did could convince her otherwise, not when she was that out of it.”

“That doesn’t explain why your warriors attacked Sloefur and Mudpool,” Mapleshade spoke up, remembering the battle that had claimed Mudpool’s life. 

“Unfortunately, Darkstar wasn’t the only one with misplaced trust,” Spiketail sighed. 

“You should have better control of your warriors, then,” Smokestar growled. “Only a weak leader would allow for such nonsense to take place in their Clan!”

Spiketail glared at the ShadowClan tom. “Darkstar isn’t weak. She was taken advantage of!”

Smokestar launched himself at Spiketail. The two cats tussled on the muddy ground for a moment before Spiketail rolled away. He crouched there, staring up at Smokestar, his sides heaving.

“Foxglove is dead, and her rogues are no longer welcome in RiverClan’s territory.” Spiketail sat up, his eyes locked on Smokestar. “RiverClan will no longer be a problem for your Clan. Either of your Clans.” He glanced at Oakstar.

“Why should we believe you after the trouble you’ve brought us?” Oakstar growled. He turned his attention back on Birchface. The brown tom was lying in the same spot, unresponsive, although his flanks rose and fell with every breath.

Mapleshade went to his side. She ran her paw down his flank in an attempt to comfort him, although she did not know whether he was aware of her presence or not. Crouching down, she peered at his face.

Foam dotted his chin and nose. Mapleshade hooked a leaf with her claw and began wiping it away, murmuring as she did so. “You’re going to be okay, Birchface. Everything will be okay.”

He opened his eyes for a moment. His eyes were glossy and unfocused, but Mapleshade could tell he understood her. 

“I love you, Birchface. And so does Oakstar, and Goldenmist. You’re so important to all of us. That’s why you need to get better. We can’t get on without you.”

Goldenmist moved in front of her, causing Mapleshade to take a step back. Mapleshade shot her an annoyed look but said nothing. Goldenmist wasn’t listening anyway. Her nose was buried in her brother’s fur, whispering something Mapleshade couldn’t make out.

“Let’s take him back to camp,” Oakstar meowed, limping forward.

The rain picked up again as night turned into day. Mapleshade sat beneath some ferns, her paws tucked underneath her, as she gazed out into the forest. Beads of water streamed down the fronds, splashing up as they hit the ground. She paid no attention to it, for her mind was somewhere else.

I killed someone.

It had been easy to push that realization away amid battle, but now she had no choice but to face reality. A life had been lost because of her. 

Foxglove tried to kill Birchface. He still might die because of her. I did nothing wrong!

I did nothing wrong. 

I did nothing wrong.

She deserved it. 

But you don’t even know her. 

It doesn’t matter. I saw what she did to him. And Spiketail said—

You’re going to take the word of an enemy warrior? RiverClan allowed the rogues to stay with them for many moons. Who’s to say they weren’t all in on it? He probably doesn’t want to take accountability for their behavior because he thinks Oakstar will have mercy on him if he lies.

RiverClan knew what was happening. They stole our prey and trespassed, too!

They didn't care. They're just as guilty. 

No! No! No! 

“Mapleshade?” Dawnfeather’s worried voice shook her from her frantic thoughts. 

Mapleshade’s jumped, hitting the ferns above her, sending a cascade of water droplets onto her pelt. She stared, wide-eyed at her sister.

“What in the name of StarClan are you doing out here by yourself? I was worried sick when you didn’t come back to camp with everyone else!” Dawnfeather mewed. 

Mapleshade didn’t say anything.

I need to tell you something, Dawnfeather. I--

“I need to tell you something,” Dawnfeather mewed suddenly. The worry in her eyes vanished, replaced with a look of nervousness, and… excitement? “I’m expecting kits!”

Mapleshade’s eyes widened even more. “You’re expecting kits?” she balked.

“Yes. I’ve been suspecting it for a few days now, but Ravenwing confirmed it tonight.”

“Who is the father?” Mapleshade asked.

Dawnfeather blinked. “Who do you think the father is?” 

Mapleshade fell silent. She racked her brain, trying to figure out who Dawnfeather had taken on as a mate, but nothing obvious came to mind. 

“Thrushtalon, you mousebrain!” Dawnfeather exclaimed, confused and frustrated by her sister’s obliviousness. 

“Thrushtalon?” 

“You really didn’t know?” Dawnfeather frowned. 

Mapleshade fell silent again. “No, I didn’t. When did this happen?” 

Dawnfeather’s tail drooped. “A while ago.” She looked as if she wanted to say something else, but she held back. Sighing, Dawnfeather continued, “We’re both very excited, although I have to admit I’m nervous.”

“You’re going to be an excellent mother,” Mapleshade said. 

“You think so?” Dawnfeather brightened immediately. “I hope so. I’ve wanted kits for the longest time, and now it’s finally happening.”

“Congratulations. I’m happy for you.”

Dawnfeather nuzzled Mapleshade. “Thank you,” she purred. “With everything else going on at the moment, I think this will be the blessing our Clan needs.”

With one life lost, another is born. 

“Yes, I-I agree.” Mapleshade nodded. 

“Are you okay?” 

“I’m just tired,” Mapleshade whispered, pulling away from her sister. 

“You should be in your nest sleeping, not out here in the rain. What are you even doing out here?” Dawnfeather scolded.

“Yes, ‘Hazelheart’,” Mapleshade teased, her whiskers twitching.

“Oh, hush!”

“You sound just like her! Your kits better watch out. They won’t be able to put a paw out of line with you around,” Mapleshade purred.

Dawnfeather gave her chest a couple of embarrassed licks. “You think so?”

Mapleshade nuzzled her again. “Yes, but there’s nothing wrong with that. You’ll be able to give your kits what our mother gave to us. And I’ll be sure to help out in whatever way I can.”

“I’d like that, Mapleshade. I’d like that more than anything. Maybe one day you’ll even get to mentor one of my kits. Wouldn’t that be something?” Dawnfeather said.

Mapleshade grew wistful as she thought about that. She’d never had an apprentice before. Would one of Dawnfeather’s kits be her first? It would be a while before the kits would be ready for that, but the idea made Mapleshade’s heart swell. “I’d be honored,” she meowed.

“That is if you live that long. With the way things are going, you’re on track to dying from greencough!” Dawnfeather jested. 

Mapleshade jabbed her in the ribs with a paw. “Stop being overly dramatic. It’s just a bit of rain.”

“You’re also fatigued and stressed,” Dawnfeather pointed out, getting serious again. She nudged Mapleshade to her paws, giving her a poke on the hind leg. “You need to get back to camp and rest. I know you’re worried about Birchface, but he’s in the paws of StarClan. You’ll do the Clan no favors by sitting in the rain trying to catch your death.”

The rain began to let up as Mapleshade followed Dawnfeather through the forest back to ThunderClan’s camp. Glancing at Dawnfeather, Mapleshade couldn’t help but feel hurt. How had she missed something so important in her sister’s life? She’d taken a mate, and Mapleshade hadn’t even noticed it. What else had she missed?

Where have I been? she thought, frustrated by her selfishness. She’d been so caught up in her own life, problems, and feelings that she had missed something so important for someone she loved more than anything.

Even now, she wasn’t fully present. Her mind was still occupied by images of Foxglove stilling beneath her paws, the trail of crimson running down the rocks…

I killed her.

She deserved it, Mapleshade told herself again. I’ve done nothing wrong.

Chapter Text

Chapter Eighteen

“Keep low, but make sure your belly fur doesn’t touch the ground,” Mapleshade whispered. 

Crowpaw’s ear flicked. The black she-cat pulled herself forward, her eyes locked on the pigeon a few fox-lengths away.

The bird stumbled over the roots of a tree, its feathers ruffled. It stumbled around in circles, shaking its wings. It paid no attention to Crowpaw as the wind unexpectedly changed, blowing the apprentice’s scent in its direction. The apprentice pounced, snapping the pigeon’s neck in a quick motion. 

“How’d I do?” Crowpaw asked, dropping the bird. 

“You did wonderfully. I was a bit nervous when the wind changed like that, but you pulled it off. Good job!” Mapleshade praised. 

“Yes, good job,” Dawnfeather chimed in.

Crowpaw’s tail straightened, her eyes beaming. “Thank you.” She prodded the pigeon with her paw. “I can’t wait to get back to camp and feed this to Rabbitfur. He’s been wanting a pigeon for ages now.”

“I’m sure that will make his day,” Dawnfeather meowed.

“Do you want to take your prey and return to camp, or should we hunt a bit longer?” Mapleshade asked. 

Crowpaw looked around. “Where’s Deerpaw and Goldenmist?” 

“Goldenmist said something about heading toward Sunningrocks. Why?”

Crowpaw’s eyes sparkled. “Can we try to meet up with them? I’ve never gone hunting at Sunningrocks before. Please, Mapleshade?” 

Mapleshade looked up. The sun was sinking lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The days were growing shorter now, with leafbare just around the corner. With that, came a shortage of prey. The Clan would need all the prey they could manage, especially with Dawnfeather’s kits coming any day now.

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt. Bury your pigeon, and we’ll come back for it later.”

Shimmering water came into view as the two of them trekked through the forest. Crowpaw’s tail straightened with excitement. She bounded forward a few paces before turning to look at Mapleshade. “May I?”

Mapleshade let out a purr of amusement. “Go ahead.”

The border between ThunderClan and RiverClan had been peaceful in the moons following the battle. It seemed as if things were finally starting to change in the forest.

“She’s mindful, isn’t she?” Dawnfeather purred, watching the apprentice scamper off. 

Before Mapleshade could reply, a wail came from the direction of Sunningrocks. She leaped down the slope after Crowpaw before breaking out from the cover of the trees. 

There was a crowd of cats gathered by the river bank, huddled over a limp bundle of fur. Mapleshade tensed immediately as she picked up RiverClan's scent. It was Cloudberry and Appledusk she realized. Goldenmist and Deerpaw stood a few tail lengths back, while Crowpaw was nowhere to be found.

“What’s going on?” Mapleshade demanded, pushing her way through the crowd.

“There found a rogue lying on the shore. There’s something wrong with it,” Goldenmist replied. She stared down at the bundle of fur, ears flattened to her head, although Mapleshade could tell she was trying her best to contain her anger. RiverClan or not, Cloudberry was a medicine cat. 

Mapleshade watched with bated breath as Cloudberry tried to tend to the unfamiliar cat lying unconscious on the riverbank. It was a kit, not even close enough to becoming an apprentice. Its tiny paws scrabbled at the sand for a moment before going still. Mapleshade’s heart sank.

Cloudberry squeezed her eyes shut, her head drooping. “I was too late,” she murmured. 

“She would have died even if you had made it on time. She was too little to survive something like that,” Appledusk whispered, pressing his nose into her shoulder. Cloudberry seemed to relax slightly at the gesture, but Mapleshade could tell it did little to ease her guilty conscious.

“What happened?” Dawnfeather finally asked. 

“We were collecting herbs across the river when I noticed Mottle writhing on the riverbank over here. It looks like she got into some deathberries,” Cloudberry said.

“You know this kit?” Goldenmist demanded.

“She was born to one of the rogues that used to live in our camp.”

“I thought they all left, unless you mean to tell me some of them have settled on our territory! Great StarClan, just what we need,” Goldenmist muttered under her breath.

“Don’t worry about that right now. She was just a kit. She could’ve wandered away, not knowing any better,” Dawnfeather said, trying to keep the peace. 

“Let’s bury her,” Appledusk murmured. 

They pulled the little kit away from the shoreline and dug a hole. Once the last of the dirt had been scrapped over Mottle’s body, Cloudberry sighed. “Poor Kestrel. She must be worried sick. Knowing her, she’ll come looking for Mottle in a few days.”

“I can’t even imagine what that poor she-cat is going through right now,” Dawnfeather whispered to Mapleshade. She looked down at her swollen stomach. “I haven’t even met my kits yet, and I already feel so protective of them. I don’t know how I’d react if something happened to them so young.”

Mapleshade didn’t say anything. She just sat with her head hung, staring at the disturbed earth where Mottle’s body lay. She didn’t know the little kit, but her heart ached. She had been so young, and to die so horribly… 

“I know,” she finally agreed. “It’s sickening. I wish there was something I could do.”

“I wonder how the poor little scrap wound up with deathberries. I don’t see any growing around here.”

Mapleshade looked around. Dawnfeather was right. There weren’t any deathberry bushes growing around here. So how had the little kit come across them? 

Images of Birchface’s convulsing body flashed through her mind. Mapleshade’s stomach dropped, and she could feel the fur on the back of her neck begin to bristle. She shoved the image out of her mind just as quickly as it came and silently thanked StarClan that Birchface had not met the same fate.

“Perhaps the rogues have sent kits to do their dirty work. They know the Clans would never take pity on a grown cat, but a kitten…” Goldenmist lashed her tail.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Kestrel would never allow her kit to be used for something like that!” Cloudberry hissed. 

“So you say. But why should I take your word for it? RiverClan is responsible for this whole mess in case you forgot!”

“Are you calling my sister a liar?” Appledusk demanded, pushing his way between them. 

“If the claw marks match!” Goldenmist spat.

“That’s enough!” Dawnfeather yowled. “Mottle was just a kit, Goldenmist. Rogue or not, she’s innocent in all of this. There’s no need to jump to baseless conclusions over a tragedy.”

The fur on the back of Goldenmist’s neck began to relax. She gave her chest a couple of embarrassed licks, seeming to realize how nonsensical her accusation had been. “Right.” She looked at Deerpaw, who was standing there wide-eyed. Crowpaw was crouched behind her.

Thank StarClan she’s safe, Mapleshade thought in relief. 

“Deerpaw, let’s go.” Goldenmist marched past the others heading deeper into ThunderClan’s territory. Deerpaw hesitated before racing after her mentor.

“We should probably get going as well,” Mapleshade decided. She nudged Crowpaw in Goldenmist’s direction while hanging back to wait for Dawnfeather. Standing there, Mapleshade gazed back at Mottle’s grave. She caught Appledusk’s eye for a second before disappearing into the forest.

Thick fog hung in the air as Mapleshade pushed her way out of the warriors’ den. The camp was empty, save for a couple of cats picking through the remains of last night’s fresh-kill.

Deerpaw pulled a scrawny rabbit from the pile.

“Go ahead and share with Rowanfur. I have to talk to Oakstar first.” Mapleshade overheard Goldenmist meow in passing.

As Mapleshade approached the apprentice’s den, Crowpaw poked her head out. “Good morning. I’m ready,” she said. She slid out of the den and arched her back before following Mapleshade out of camp and up the ravine.

 Deciding the fog was too thick to practice training, Mapleshade veered in the direction of the Thunderpath near Fourtrees. The forest was sparser here, allowing the sun to break up the fog a little. They hunted until sunhigh. 

Two mice dangled from Mapleshade’s jaws as she pushed her way through the gorse tunnel. Her heart dropped into her chest, both mice hitting the ground as her eyes locked on the scene in front of her. Two bodies lay in the center of camp, the rest of the Clan gathered around them.

Forgetting her mice, Mapleshade ran forward. She crouched next to Rowanfur’s body, a wail escaping her jaws. Deerpaw was next to him. “What happened?” Mapleshade demanded.

“They were poisoned,” Hazelheart choked out. 

Mapleshade’s eyes widened in horror. “Poisoned?” she echoed. She caught Goldenmist’s gaze. She looked equally as frightened.

“How did this happen? They were fine this morning!”

“Deerpaw and Rowanfur were sharing a rabbit when both of them got sick. It was over before Ravenwing could do anything,” Whitefoot muttered. “Gruesome sight. I never want to see anything like it again.”

“To think, I was going to share it with them, but I went to speak with Oakstar first.” Goldenmist shuddered. Birchface leaned against her.

A yowl came from the elder’s den. Everyone turned to see Stormpaw standing there, the fur on the back of his neck bristling, his eyes wide. “Rabbitfur is dead, too!”

Gasps echoed across the clearing. Several warriors slipped past the apprentice, dragging Rabbitfur’s body out into the clearing. Graytuft appeared last, a half-eaten pigeon dangling from his jaws. There was a slit in the pigeon’s stomach. Inside was a cluster of dark red berries.

“Deathberries,” Ravenwing growled.

“Deathberries?” Crowpaw wailed, looking as if she was about to jump out of her skin. “How could that have happened? I caught that pigeon myself, and I’d never do something like this!”

“It’s okay. No one blames you.” Embershine tried to run her tail across Crowpaw’s flank, but she shrank away.

“Could it be an omen?” Whitefoot said anxiously. 

Ravenwing was silent. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted. 

Oakstar sighed. “Just when I thought our luck was shaping up,” he muttered. “Ravenwing, I think we should visit the Moonstone tonight. I’d like to share tongues with StarClan.” Standing to his paws, he made his way over to what was left of the fresh-kill pile. “While I’m gone, want all of this discarded, just in case. From now on, we’ll have to examine our prey before we add it to the pile.”

“I’ll get on that for you,” Beetail offered. He called Embershine and Thrushtalon forward.

“Should I take another hunting patrol out?” Sweetbriar offered.

“No. I’ll have Bloomheart take one. I want you to watch over Goldenmist for me. Deerpaw was her first apprentice. The loss is going to be hard for her,” Oakstar whispered. He touched his nose to her shoulder and left.

The next few days passed in a blur. Mapleshade stumbled through the forest, an invisible weight clinging to her body. Her legs were like stone. 

Despite Oakstar alleviating her and Crowpaw of their duties, she found she couldn’t stay in camp. The sense of unease in the Clan made Mapleshade sick to her stomach. It was as though a cast of hawks had perched in the trees above them, ready to swoop down at any moment.

There was no comfort in the little things the Clan normally enjoyed, either. Every cat cautiously tore apart the fresh-kill that entered the camp, checking and rechecking to make sure no one met a similar fate to the three lives that had been lost already.

Crowpaw, inconsolable over Rabbitfur’s death, had been confined to Ravenwing’s den for the time being, leaving Mapleshade alone with her thoughts.

She wasn’t fairing much better. She felt an ache in her chest every time she thought about Rowanfur. It worsened every time she went to visit Dawnfeather and her newborn kits in the nursery.

The birth had gone smooth, Dawnfeather bearing two kits — a tom named Nettlekit, and a she-cat named Flowerkit. 

Mapleshade tried to rejoice over the kit’s births, but she couldn’t ignore the dark cloud that seemed to hover over her. Everything seemed so uncertain at the moment. As soon as one problem was solved, two more seemed to sprout up like vines. Would these young kits meet the same fate as Rowanfur and the others? Or would they be slain in some battle? 

The scent of crowfood made Mapleshade stop in her tracks. It was coming from the direction of the Treecut Place. The scent grew stronger as Mapleshade approached. Not even the usual Twoleg strench could cover it up. 

A set of deep ruts from a Twoleg monster cut through the earth. As Mapleshade went to leap across, something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. A little way down, in the middle of the rut, lay the reddish-brown remains of something. 

Cautiously, she leaped into the rut, wincing as her paws sank into the peaty ground. She bounded toward the shape, wrinkling her nose as the stench of crowfood grew stronger. 

It was a fox, she realized. It lay on its side, eyes glazed over and jaw hanging open. Something sticky had dried to its muzzle, and inside Mapleshade could barely make out the shape of something red coating its tongue. A set of scars ran across one of the fox’s eyes, causing Mapleshade to gasp. Was this the same fox she had encountered all those moons ago?

Climbing out of the rut, Mapleshade followed a trail of blood to a nearby bush where she discovered the body of a rogue. His face was twisted into a grimace, while blood coated his throat and chest. A shredded rabbit lay next to him, torn apart in the battle between the fox and the rogue. Deathberries were scattered everywhere, some of them smashed. It didn’t take long for Mapleshade to figure out what was going on.

A growl rose in her throat as she raced through the forest back to camp. It was foolish of her to think the rogues would leave so easily. 

The scent of rogues grew stronger as Mapleshade approached camp. A sinking feeling washed over her, already knowing what to expect. The rogues had been lying in wait all this time, waiting until ThunderClan had let its guard down to attack.

A high-pitched cry stopped Mapleshade in her tracks. Several pelts streaked past her, racing away from ThunderClan’s camp and heading in the direction of Twoleg’s Place. A bundle of orange-and-white fur dangled from one of the rogue’s mouths, crying pitifully as it bumped against their legs.

“Nettlekit!” Mapleshade shouted. She sprinted after the rogues, the earlier heaviness in her limbs dissipating completely. Pawsteps drummed behind her, but Mapleshade paid them no mind. She had to reach Nettlekit before it was too late!

The rogue clambered up a fence, glancing briefly at Mapleshade before leaping into the garden on the opposite side. Mapleshade was right behind him. She hit the ground hard, stumbling, before tearing off after the rogue once more.

The sound of barking caused both cats to freeze. The rogue raced for the cover of some bushes, squeezing underneath. A moment later, he clambered up the fence and leaped into the next garden. 

Mapleshade tried to follow him, but the dog stopped her. Drawing her lips back in a snarl, she raked her claws across its muzzle, causing the dog to yelp. It reeled back for a moment, then started barking again.

A Twoleg appeared from the door of the den, shouting angrily. The dog continued to bark, diving toward Mapleshade again. She batted at its muzzle again, but the dog didn’t seem deterred.

Go away, you stupid, slobbering beast! she thought irritably. If she didn’t hurry, she’d never be able to catch up with the rogue, meaning Nettlekit would be lost forever. 

Suddenly, Mapleshade was drenched with water. She fell back, eyes squeezed shut, as the water continued to spray her, dripping into her eyes. She blindly crawled beneath a bush, but the barrage of water continued. 

She peered blearily through the branches, trying to make sense of what had happened. The Twoleg stood nearby, something long and snake-like in its hands. Water poured from the end of it. The Twoleg continued to aim the snake-like thing in the direction of the bush, shouting as it did so.

Mapleshade raced from the cover of the bushes. She hurried up the fence, letting out a hiss as the Twoleg sprayed her with more water. She glared at the Twoleg and its stupid dog for a second before jumping into the next garden.

Once she was positive there were no dogs in this garden, Mapleshade collapsed, breathing heavily. She tried not to linger for too long, wanting to catch up with the rogue before it was too late. Following the scent trail, Mapleshade crossed several more Twoleg gardens and an empty lot dotted with a couple of scraggly bushes. 

A Thunderpath lay on the other side of the empty lot, cutting Mapleshade off from the line of Twoleg nests on the other side. Monsters roared past, blocking out the scent trail Mapleshade had been following. A string of curses fell from her mouth as Mapleshade sank her claws into the ground. She stared across the Thunderpath, wondering how StarClan could allow this to happen.

Back in the forest, Mapleshade headed in the direction of the river. She needed to find Nettlekit now, and if any cat knew where the rogues lived, it would be RiverClan. There was no time to head back to camp and explain everything to Oakstar, and wait for him to lead a patrol into the unknown.

She crossed the stepping stones into RiverClan’s territory without trouble. It wasn’t until she neared their camp that she was stopped by a patrol.

Redtail stood at the head, her hackles raised. “What do you think you’re doing here?” she hissed. 

“I need to speak with Darkstar. It’s urgent. The rogues attacked our camp and stole one of our kits!” Mapleshade panted.

Frostcloud’s eyes widened. “I knew I caught their scent blowing in from across the river earlier.” She beckoned Mapleshade forward with her tail. “Come on, I’ll escort—”

Darkstar slipped through the reeds. Her eyes were clear, her dark pelt sleek and healthy once more. The sickness that had gripped her for so long was no longer evident as she strode forward to stand in front of Mapleshade. “Leave immediately,” she demanded.

“I’m sorry for trespassing, but—”

“I heard enough. Whatever happens to that kit is none of RiverClan’s concern. I learned my lesson about helping outsiders, and I’m not about to make the same mistake twice!” Darkstar growled.

Mapleshade stared at her. For a moment, she wasn’t sure she had heard the RiverClan leader correctly. But when Darkstar’s hackles began to rise, Mapleshade realized there was nothing else she could say to convince the leader to help. She flattened her ears to her head, taking a step back.

“Very well, then. This kit’s blood shall be on your paws should anything happen to him.” Mapleshade lifted her head, meeting Darkstar’s gaze head-on.

A blaze of fury flashed through Darkstar’s eyes. “How dare you? As if ThunderClan doesn’t have blood on its own paws!” She swiped a sheathed paw around Mapleshade’s ear, forcing her backward. “Get out of our territory, and don’t come back. If I catch you or any other ThunderClan cat so much as a whisker over the border, the rogues will be the least of your worries!”

Mapleshade glared at Darkstar for a heartbeat. She then dipped her head to Frostcloud and Redtail, who looked sympathetic and embarrassed, before heading back in the direction she came. 

In the safety of her territory, Mapleshade collapsed once more. How had this day gone so wrong? She hadn’t even seen the full extent of the damage back at camp. What if one of her Clanmates had been killed, or worse — what if her Clan had been driven from their home?

The rustling of leaves alerted Mapleshade. Lifting her head, she spotted Appledusk sneaking toward her. 

“I heard what happened,” he whispered. “I think I can help you.”

Mapleshade sat up completely. “You do?”

“The rogues are spread out throughout the Twoleg’s Place, but there are two main camps most of them spend time at. Even if we don’t find your kit there, I’m sure we’ll find someone that does.”

“As if we can just stroll into their camp and ask for Nettlekit back!”

Appledusk flicked an ear. “Maybe not, but at least then you’ll have an idea of where he’s at. Unless you have a better idea?”

Mapleshade fell silent. Appledusk was right. Even if they weren’t able to rescue Nettlekit right away, it would bring some comfort to know where he was. She would deal with the rest later. 

She followed Appledusk the same way she had gone earlier (this time making sure to avoid the garden with the dog) until they reached the empty lot. They crossed the Thunderpath without issue, venturing deeper into the Twoleg’s Place. 

Anxiety gripped Mapleshade the further they went. Except for her trip to Highstones as an apprentice, she had never been this far from ThunderClan’s territory. She was beginning to feel guilty for not checking in back at camp, but it was too late now. 

The Twoleg’s Place was a confusing labyrinth of unfamiliar sights and scents. Every so often, an unknown noise would sound, causing Mapleshade to jump out of her skin. Appledusk looked just as uneasy, although he was trying his best to mask his anxiety.

“How many times have you been here?” Mapleshade hissed.

“Only twice, technically three times now. It never gets any easier,” he admitted.

“Are you sure you know where you’re going?”

“I think so.”

“What? We’re this deep into the Twoleg’s Place, and you only think you know where you’re going?”

“As long as I pay attention to my surroundings and notice little landmarks along the way, I should be fine. For example, there should be a Thunderpath lined with little trees just around this corner.”

Appledusk darted around the corner into another alleyway. It was empty. Mapleshade was about to reprimand him and demand they turn around and head back when they reached the end of the alley. A smooth stone path lay before them, with little trees sprouting from strips of grass here and there. Twolegs walked to and fro, paying neither cat any mind. On the other side, a little Thunderpath cut through.

“See?” Appledusk shot Mapleshade a look, puffing out his chest.

After crossing the Thunderpath, Mapleshade and Appledusk stopped to rest in another alleyway. Crawling behind a dumpster, they settled down for the night, exhausted. 

Mapleshade lapped at her aching paw pads. One of them was cracked and bleeding, but that wasn’t what bothered her. Images of Nettlekit's pitiful cries as he was carried away occupied her mind. What if they never found him? What would she tell Dawnfeather? And how would she explain this failed mission to the rest of her Clanmates? Would they be grateful she even tried, or would Oakstar be furious with her for running away?

Appledusk pressed his nose to her ear. “The rogues may be a lot of things, but they’d never harm a kit. I can promise you that.”

“How do you know?” 

“If they wanted to hurt Nettlekit, they would’ve done it in front of the entirety of ThunderClan. They’ve stolen him to raise as their own, perhaps as a replacement for Mottle,” Appledusk said. “If that’s the case, I wouldn’t worry too much. Kestrel will take good care of him until we can get him back.”

His words did little to ease Mapleshade’s worries. Even if Kestrel took care of Nettlekit, that wasn’t where he belonged. He was a ThunderClan kit and deserved to be raised alongside the rest of his kin.

Rolling onto her back, Mapleshade stared at the darkening sky. The familiar light from Silverpelt was nowhere to be found, as if her warrior ancestors had turned their back on her, leaving her to fend for herself in this unfamiliar labyrinth.

Chapter Text

Chapter Nineteen

Mapleshade pulled herself under a spindly bush, wincing as a branch scraped along her spine. Appledusk settled down beside her, tucking his paws under him. The bush did little to protect them from the rain, but it was better than being out in the open.

It was almost sunhigh, Mapleshade presumed, though she could not see the sun. They had been traveling since a little before dawn, woken by a drizzle. Deciding to get a move on before all the Twolegs and their monsters awoke, Mapleshade followed Appledusk deeper into the Twoleg’s Place.

“I’m hungry. Are you?” Appledusk meowed after a moment of silence.

Suddenly, Mapleshade became aware of the ache in her stomach. She hadn’t eaten last night, and the mouse they’d shared this morning had already burned off. “Starving,” she admitted. 

Appledusk stretched. “I’ll go catch us something, then.”

“I can hunt for myself,” Mapleshade argued.

“It’s pouring out there. Do you really want to get soaked to the bone? At least I’m used to the water,” Appledusk pointed out.

Mapleshade settled back down, not in the mood to argue. She needed to make the most of this trip, for Nettlekit’s sake. Arguing with Appledusk over something pointless would only make things more complicated. 

Mapleshade shrank further under the bush as the rain grew heavier. Every time the wind blew, it threw spray into the air, soaking Mapleshade’s flank. She flattened her ears to her head, wondering how Appledusk was fairing. 

It wasn’t long before he returned, carrying a large frog in his mouth. “This was all I could find,” he sighed, dropping it at her paws. 

Pushing back a grimace, Mapleshade lowered her head to take a bite. The two shared the frog in silence until Mapleshade could no longer stand the taste, giving Appledusk the rest. He pushed her to eat more, insisting she keep her strength up, but Mapleshade refused. 

They set off again as soon as the rain came to a stop. Appledusk led her down several more alleys, and through a row of Twoleg gardens. A group of Twoleg kits had chased them up a tree at one point, taking out a large chunk of the day. It didn’t help that everything was wet from the rain, leaving Mapleshade soaked.

Padding down another alley, Mapleshade looked up at the sky. The storm clouds from earlier had vanished, revealing a reddish-orange sky. 

“Mouse-dung,” Mapleshade muttered. They’d already lost enough time as it was — now they’d have to stop for the night! 

They continued walking until Twoleg’s Place was draped in darkness. Mapleshade scouted for a place to sleep, while Appledusk went in search of prey. Spying a hole in the wall of an abandoned Twoleg nest, Mapleshade crept forward. She sniffed at the opening, met only with stale, dusty air. 

Inside, the nest was empty. There was a large hole in the roof and a puddle on the floor directly beneath it. Mapleshade walked to the far corner, huddling against the wall as she waited for Appledusk. 

She’d been gone far longer than expected. There was no doubt her Clanmates were worried sick about her at this point -- if they were even still alive. She couldn’t believe she’d been so foolish to disappear like this, but she tried to tell herself it was necessary. Nettlekit was out there somewhere, all alone. 

A large piece of meat unlike anything Mapleshade had seen before dangled from Appledusk’s jaws as he pushed his way into the abandoned Twoleg nest. “I found this in a dumpster,” he mewed. 

Mapleshade held back a growl, ready to taste something even more fowl than the frog they’d eaten earlier, but as she took a bite, she was met with a flavor she’d never tasted before. It tasted like bird, although there was something more to it. 

“What is this?” she asked, licking her lips.

“Dunno. Something Twoleg’s eat. It was wrapped in some weird leaves, along with some other stuff.”

“Do you think they buried it for later?” Mapleshade wondered.

“I don’t think so. Nimble — one of the rogues — said Twolegs waste so much prey. They only eat half of it, and just toss the rest of it in the trash.”

Mapleshade narrowed her eyes. “But it’s almost leafbare! Aren’t they worried they’ll starve?”

Appledusk shrugged. “I guess not.”

“Twolegs are so strange.”

“You wouldn’t believe half the things the rogues said about them,” Appledusk meowed.

Mapleshade stopped grooming herself and looked up at him. “They lived with your Clan for a while, didn’t they? Were you close with them?” 

Appledusk looked at his paws, lost in thought. “Not really. I liked Kestrel. She was nice. Beatrice and Katy were nice, too. They were formerly kittypets, and you could tell. Ramona was okay, but I didn’t talk to her much. The others were your typical rogue: brash, rough around the edges, think they know it all.”

“What about Foxglove?” Mapleshade murmured. Images from that night flashed through her mind once more. Birchface, foaming at the mouth, at the edge of death. Foxglove’s head hitting the rock, her eyes going dim as her blood began to pool down towards Mapleshade’s paws—

“Hey, are you okay?” Appledusk nudged her shoulder. 

Mapleshade snapped out of it. She looked at him, wide-eyed. It was at that moment she realized she was shaking. Whatever Appledusk had said about Foxglove, she had missed. “Yeah. Fine.” She gave her chest a couple of embarrassed licks. 

“You were shaking, and you got this look in your eyes. I was worried.”

“I’m fine.”

Appledusk pressed closer to her. “Are you cold?”

“A little, but I’ll be fine once I’ve groomed myself. All this rain has messed up my pelt.” She began licking her tail, trying to get rid of all the knots that had gathered in her fur. 

Suddenly, she felt Appledusk’s tongue rasp along her back. Mapleshade straightened up, giving him an odd look. He held a twig in his mouth, spitting it out.

“That was caught in your fur,” he explained. 

The fur along her spine rippled. “Thank you,” she meowed awkwardly, going back to grooming her tail. Once she felt clean enough, Mapleshade laid down with her paws tucked beneath her. 

A strong wind blew through the gap in the wall, causing her to shiver. Appledusk settled down in front of her, blocking her from the wind. Mapleshade moved closer to him, grateful for the touch of his fur as another gust of wind rattled the rafters above them.

StarClan, please keep Nettlekit warm and dry, she pleaded, but the sky was devoid of her ancestors once again.

“Do you think StarClan is watching over us from here?” she whispered after a long bout of silence. 

“I don’t see why they couldn’t be watching over us,” Appledusk said. “The sky stretches beyond the forest, after all.”

“Sometimes I feel as if they’ve abandoned me. Everything seems to be going wrong lately. Birchface hasn’t been the same since that battle, and then my father and two other Clanmates were poisoned. And now Nettlekit’s been taken. I just don’t know what to think.” Mapleshade stared at the sky, silently begging for one star to appear in the sky, but none did.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Appledusk whispered. “I know this isn’t much consolidation, but whenever I find myself missing someone, I try to tell myself that they’re in a better place. They’ll never have to worry about fighting another battle or going hungry. There are no more pointless border skirmishes. Cats from all Clans are free to go wherever they please and be friends with whoever they want. In a way, they’re better off in StarClan than they ever were down here.”

Mapleshade tilted her head to the side. “How do you know that?”

“My sister is a medicine cat, remember?” 

“I thought medicine cats weren’t allowed to share their dreams with other cats?”

“They’re not supposed to, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt.” A wistful look crossed Appledusk’s face as he continued, “We had another sister named Cherrypaw. The three of us were very close growing up. We would always sneak out of camp, looking for the next discovery beyond our camp’s walls. One day, Cherrypaw and I sneaked out just before a storm broke. She slipped on a wet stone while trying to cross the river and went under. I tried to save her, but it was too late.” The wistful look was replaced by one of remorse.

“I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a littermate like that.” Mapleshade frowned.

“My mother blames me for her death. She hasn’t liked me much since. She only tolerates me because she has to, but I know better. She’d chase me away if Darkstar permitted her,” Appledusk muttered. 

“What? It wasn’t your fault Cherrypaw drowned,” Mapleshade pointed out.

“I know, but Redtail doesn’t see it that way. In her eyes, we should’ve known better. We should’ve stayed in camp and done what we were supposed to.” Appledusk sighed. “In a way, I understand. We weren’t following the warrior code. But Mapleshade—” Appledusk stood up and began to pace, his words growing more and more frustrated, “I’m tired of being held back by rules that were made up a long time ago by long-dead cats. Maybe those rules worked for them, but why should we have to follow them now? Why can’t things be different? Instead of spending so much time at each other’s throats, the Clans should be working together. We all face the same problems after all.”

Mapleshade flexed her claws. “It sounds good in theory, but it would never work. StarClan allowed the Clans to create the warrior code for a reason. It’s the only thing separating us from the rogues. They have no code, but their lives aren’t any easier,” she argued. 

“Their lives are hard because it’s every cat for themselves. The Clans are different. We have structure and order. We care for our elders, and train and protect our kits.”

“That’s because the warrior code commands us to,” Mapleshade pointed out.

“Do you really need a set of rules telling you what to do to be a good cat?” Appledusk stared at her. Mapleshade looked away, unable to think of a counter. Appledusk was right. She didn’t do those things because the warrior code told her to — it just came naturally.

“You realize you’re breaking the warrior code right now, don’t you? Abandoning your Clan without saying a word, going into RiverClan’s territory without permission, running away with me,” Appledusk continued. 

Mapleshade’s neck fur began to bristle. “We aren’t running away together. You’re helping me look for Nettlekit. I doubt any cat could find fault in that.”

“But you see how the warrior code holds us back?” Appledusk’s gaze was gentler now. “Mapleshade, I don’t think you realize how much you’re missing out of life because of it. Haven’t you ever wondered what lies beyond ThunderClan’s territory, or wondered what life in another Clan is like? I think every cat would be happier if we focused on getting along, instead of pretending to be enemies. We aren’t that different at the end of the day. If it works in StarClan, why can’t it work for the living?”

The conversation tapered out after that. Mapleshade shifted several times trying to get comfortable, but sleep never came. 

“Are you unhappy in RiverClan? Is that why you feel this way?” she whispered, unsure if Appledusk was even awake.

Appledusk rolled over to face her, but he didn’t say anything for a long time. “I don’t know. On one paw, I love the river and the life I’ve built in my Clan. But something is missing. You’re lucky you’ve never experienced that.”

“Have you ever told any cat how you feel — Cloudberry or Reedshine?” Mapleshade asked.

“Reedshine? Why would I tell her?”

“She’s your friend, isn’t she? Or your mate?”

Appledusk let out an amused purr. “Reedshine is not my mate, thank StarClan!”

Mapleshade frowned. “You don’t like her? But I always see the two of you sitting together at the Gatherings.”

“You’ve met her before. Tell me if you like her,” Appledusk said.

“Not particularly, but that’s only because she’s a RiverClan cat.”

“I’m a RiverClan cat.”

“My point exactly,” Mapleshade joked. Appledusk batted a sheathed paw over her ear, letting out another purr of amusement. 

“Anyway, think of every encounter you’ve had with Reedshine, and imagine having to put up with that every day. It’s exhausting,” Appledusk said. 

“She’s really not any better?”

“Nope.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I know. It’s so hard to deal with. Maybe I could come live in ThunderClan with you?” Appledusk teased.

“ThunderClan doesn’t take in strays.”

“Well, I think I heard somewhere that RiverClan does.”

Mapleshade shot him a look, annoyed at the mere implication of his words. “Like I’d ever want to live in RiverClan.”

“Why not?”

“Why not? For one thing, swimming is completely unnatural! There’s a reason why RiverClan is the only Clan willing to throw themselves into the water, and that’s because you’re all born with thistle down for brains.”

“We’re actually born with duck down. A huge difference.”

“Oh, right. I’m sorry.”

“It’s what makes our pelts so sleek and water-repellent.”

Mapleshade shook her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

"I'm serious! It's our special trait, just like the squirrel fur that lines your skull."

"Squirrel fur?" This time, Mapleshade batted at him.

Appledusk rolled away. "You missed."

"I'm going easy on you. If I wanted to, I'd have you running out of here with your tail between your legs," Mapleshade said, batting at him again. She then launched herself at him, wrestling him to the ground. Appledusk shouldered his way out of her grip before pinning her.

"Are you sure about that?" He stared down at her. Stepping off, he gave his chest a couple of licks. "It's getting late. Let's get some sleep."

Another wave washed overhead, knocking Mapleshade under the surface. She thrashed as hard as she could, trying to propel herself back to the surface, but it was useless. She was losing too much energy, her lungs burning for oxygen.

Don’t panic, Appledusk’s voice sounded in her head. 

Mapleshade stopped struggling, allowing her body to go limp. As the current carried her downstream, she could feel another pelt brushing against her. Thinking it was Appledusk, she turned.

Goldenmist swam toward her, a determined look in her eyes. 

What are you doing here? Mapleshade wondered. She paddled toward her Clanmate, a surge of hope in her chest. But when she reached Goldenmist, her Clanmate shoved her back, pushing her deeper into the water.

What are you doing? Mapleshade sputtered, choking on the water that flooded her mouth and lungs. She tried to claw at Goldenmist, but her movements were too slow in the water. Goldenmist continued to shove her underwater. 

Stop! Stop! You’re my Clanmate! What are you doing? Can’t you see you’re drowning me?

Mapleshade’s mouth filled with the taste of blood, and for a moment she thought it belonged to her. Opening her eyes, she recoiled in horror, watching as Goldenmist’s lifeless body floated away from her, red mist spurting from the gash in her throat. 

With the last bit of her energy, Mapleshade swam toward her, grabbing Goldenmist by the scruff. Breaking the surface, Mapleshade headed to shore, collapsing immediately.

A shadow fell over her. Looking up, Mapleshade saw Birchface standing there. Goldenmist flanked him, alive and well. Her eyes blazed with fury, her lips curled into a snarl.

“I thought we told you two to never come back,” Birchface hissed. 

Mapleshade turned her head to where she had placed Goldenmist’s dead body, only to see it had been replaced with Appledusk’s. Blood trickled from the gash in his neck. “Appledusk?” Mapleshade crawled over to him, prodding him with a paw.

As soon as she touched him, his body was replaced with Dawnfeather’s. Two small, lifeless kits were curled at her side. 

“This is all your fault!” Goldenmist shrieked. She tackled Mapleshade, pushing her back into the shallows. Mapleshade shrank down in the water, staring at her Clanmates with confusion and horror. 

“You’re not going to fight back? Coward!” Goldenmist splashed Mapleshade in the face. 

“She always has been,” Birchface called, coming to join his sister in the water. Together they pinned Mapleshade down, shoving her head underwater once again.

Mapleshade stared at their blurred figures, trying to figure out where she had gone so wrong. Despite holding her breath, her lungs filled with water anyway. Please, stop! Don’t do this! 

Mapleshade’s eyes shot open. She sat up, chest heaving. She let out a sigh of relief, realizing it was just a nightmare. Lightning illuminated the night sky, highlighting the rain that fell through the gap in the roof. Appledusk was curled up in the corner, fast asleep.

Mapleshade didn’t sleep the rest of the night.

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty

It continued to storm well into the next day, flooding most of the alleyways with shallow water. Mapleshade sloshed through the puddles, completely soaked. Despite Appledusk’s assurance that they were close, Mapleshade felt sick. This trip was longer than anticipated, and with the weather being the way it had, she wasn’t sure how she would get Nettlekit home safely. 

Agony pierced through her paw pad, causing Mapleshade to yelp. She lifted her paw, beads of blood bubbling to the surface.

“What’s wrong?” Appledusk demanded, splashing over to her. 

“I stepped on something.” Wincing, she held her paw out to him. Something clear and sharp was embedded into the pad. 

“Glass,” Appledusk muttered. He carefully bit down on it and pulled it from her paw. “Come around this way — careful now.” 

Mapleshade limped after him, the two of them skirting around the spot she had stepped on the glass. Her irritation grew with every step. “I pray to StarClan I never see the Twoleg’s Place again!” 

“I don’t blame you. This is taking longer than expected,” Appledusk sighed. 

“Do you regret coming?”

Appledusk flicked an ear. “No. This was important to you. Do you regret coming?”

“No. I have to find Nettlekit. I just didn’t think it was going to end up like this!” She let out a string of curses as she accidentally stumbled, placing pressure on her sore foot. 

Appledusk stopped. “Do you want to lean against me?”

“I don’t know. I might have to,” Mapleshade hissed. Appledusk pressed against her, matching her slow speed without complaint. 

“I should’ve gone back to my Clan and told them what happened instead of thinking I could do this on my own,” she sighed. 

“You’re not on your own. I’m here,” Appledusk reminded her. 

“You know what I mean.”

They didn’t make it much further before Mapleshade stopped. Crawling under a dumpster, she started licking at her throbbing paw. Blood continued to trickle from the wound due to the rough stone underpaw. “Mouse-dung,” she muttered. 

Appledusk crouched next to her. “Do you want me to look for some cobwebs?” he offered. 

Mapleshade closed her eyes. “Don’t waste your time,” she sighed. “I’m going to have to tough it out. Just give me a moment.”

“I think we’re almost close,” Appledusk meowed, trying to comfort her. 

Suddenly, there was a loud clang above them. Both cats tensed.

“I’ll go see what that was,” Appledusk whispered, sliding out from underneath the dumpster. Several loud yowls immediately filled the air. 

Mapleshade scrambled after Appledusk, trying to keep her weight off her injured foot. As she poked her head out, she saw three unfamiliar cats standing there, backs arched and ears flattened to their heads. They would’ve looked intimidating had the rain not plastered their fur to the skin showing off how bony they were. 

“Who are you?” a dark gray, almost black, tom spat. 

There was a flash of recognition in Appledusk’s eyes, but he kept his mouth shut. 

“I asked you a question. Are you going to answer it, or are you too scared?” the tom taunted.

“He looks like a drowned rat,” one of the other rogues purred. 

“Speak for yourself,” Mapleshade growled, limping to Appledusk’s side. She knew she was in no condition to fight, but she had to try to hold their ground.

The rogue’s lips curled into a snarl. “If you’re trying to steal this chicken from us, think again!” She stepped protectively in front of a piece of meat, looking as if she would die for it if it came down to that.

“We don’t want… whatever you said that was.” Mapleshade wrinkled her nose. “We’re just passing through.”

The gray tom scoffed. “’Just passing through.’ And where may I ask, are you from?”

For the first time, Mapleshade was grateful to be soaked, her scent hidden. “We’re kittypets. Our Twolegs abandoned us, and we don’t know where to go.” She lifted her paw pathetically, showing the cut. Please let this work, she prayed. 

When none of the cats relaxed, Mapleshade tried again. “Is there some cat that could help us, maybe?”

“Why should we help you? We have our own problems,” a brown tabby she-cat with white paws muttered.

“What have I told you three about being rude to strangers?” There was another loud clang coming from the top of the dumpster. The newcomer crouched there, her dark fur plastered to her body from the rain. She narrowed her eyes.

A large brown tom clambered up the dumpster, coming to stand beside her. “It’s just a couple of stupid kittypets. I wouldn’t even bother with them, Ramona.”

Mapleshade’s eyes widened. She felt Appledusk tense beside her. 

Ramona looked at the brown tom from the corner of her eye. She turned her attention back to the three rogues. “I’ve made it very clear: I want every stranger brought to me.” She leaped down, coming to stand in front of Mapleshade and Appledusk. “You smell like Twoleg rubbish and rainwater. How long have you been out here?”

“A couple of days. We’re lost,” Mapleshade replied.

“Have you had anything to eat?” 

Mapleshade nodded.

Ramona circled them, continuing to sniff at their pelts. “Come with me.” Without checking to see if they were coming, she took off. The four other rogues surrounded them, glaring as they ushered them in the direction Ramona had gone. Appledusk remained silent.

“I’m still not giving you this chicken,” one rogue mumbled, continuing to give them suspicious looks. “And you’re not going to get any, either!” she hissed at the others.

One tom swatted the she-cat with his large paw, knocking the prey from her jaws. Staring her down, he crouched over the meat and ate it. The she-cat cowered down, making no attempt to fight back. None of the other rogues paid any attention.

Mapleshade’s tail flicked in irritation, but she held her tongue. It wasn’t her place to say anything. She was this close to finding Nettlekit, and bringing him home. 

The tom glared at her as he lifted his head. Mapleshade ducked her head, pretending to be intimidated by him. “That’s what I thought. Now get a move on,” he demanded.

The scent of numerous cats hit Mapleshade as she followed Ramona through a hole in a wall. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Mapleshade could see numerous cats milling around, more than all four Clans combined.

“You all live here?” Mapleshade questioned, staring at Ramona. 

“My cats are free to come and go as they please, but most choose to stay here.” Ramona didn’t look back as she leaped onto a wooden platform sticking out of the wall, jumping higher and higher until she reached the top of the abandoned Twoleg nest. Peering through two sticks, she gazed down at her cats below. Some of them watched Mapleshade with interest, but most paid no mind.

“Come with me.” Ramona beckoned Mapleshade forward, walking along the soft ground until they reached a little cave. 

Mapleshade sat there, neck fur bristling as she looked around. Various Twoleg objects still littered the place, all of them completely foreign to her. She couldn’t fathom how any creature could live like this. 

Ramona padded forward, a wad of cobweb in her jaw. “Give me your paw,” she ordered.

Mapleshade held out her paw as pathetically as she could. “Oh, it hurts so bad. I’ve never been in so much pain!”

Ramona glanced at her briefly, flicking an ear. 

“I wish my Twolegs were here to help me,” Mapleshade continued to mutter. 

“That’s enough.” Ramona finished wrapping her paw before sitting back. She looked Mapleshade over for a long while. She didn’t speak for a long time, making Mapleshade nervous. Did she see through this act of hers? And… where was Appledusk? 

Mapleshade stood up, her stomach churning. She looked behind her, but he was nowhere to be found. Had the other cats recognized him somehow? It was possible, considering the rogues had lived with RiverClan for some time. “Where is… Fluffy?” Mapleshade asked, blurting out the first ridiculous kittypet name she could think of. 

“Fluffy?” Ramona tilted her head to the side.

“My companion. That tom that was with me,” Mapleshade said.

Ramona ignored her. “You said you were abandoned by your housefolk, right?” 

Mapleshade nodded. “Yes. A while ago. I… I don’t know where I am, or what I’m doing. We’ve been wandering through the Twoleg’s Place. You have no idea how frightened I am,” she lied. 

For the first time, Ramona’s expression softened. “You’re in good paws with us. Many of our cats come from similar backgrounds, myself included. I know what it’s like to be abandoned by someone who was your entire world…” As she spoke, her ears flattened to her head as she recalled a memory, although she did not elaborate. Standing to her paws, Ramona nudged Mapleshade back the way they had come. 

“You’re free to stay with us if you’d like — you and your companion both. I can’t promise you food, but you’ll have shelter and friends, should you decide to make them. Not every cat is friendly, so keep that in mind,” Ramona explained. 

“What do you mean by that?” 

“While some of us were abandoned by our housefolk, many of the cats here come from the streets. We also have a few Clan cats in our midst.”

Mapleshade’s eyes widened. “Clan cats?”

Ramona spun around. “Surely you’ve heard of them? Those brutes who live in the forest who think they’re better than everyone else because their ”dead ancestors“ told them so. What a load of mouse-droppings.”

Mapleshade felt a growl rising in her throat, but she held it back. “It sounds familiar, now that you say that.”

“They’re quite infamous, so I’m not surprised. But if I were you, I wouldn’t trust them.” Ramona walked forward, glaring down between the sticks that lined the edge of this upper level. 

Mapleshade’s gaze followed hers, immediately recognizing Splashfoot, Creekstep, and Carpclaw, the RiverClan warriors. They sat alone, bonier than ever, fur dull and patchy. Had they really abandoned RiverClan to live here?  

“Why let them live here if they’re so horrible?” Mapleshade asked.

Ramona wrinkled her nose. “I was hoping they’d have a change of heart once they left the forest behind, but I suppose some things can never be undone. A lifetime of being told you’re the only one who matters, and everyone else is beneath you is hard to unlearn, I suppose.”

Mapleshade’s claws dug into the soft ground. How could she say such a thing considering everything her cats had done to terrorize them? Trespassing, stealing prey, killing others, and stealing kittens? She was tempted to swat Ramona across the muzzle right then and there, but she had to control herself. “That… sounds terrible.” She forced the words out through clenched jaws. 

Suddenly, the walls around Mapleshade seemed to feel as if they were closing in. The air was too stuffy and uncomfortable. Everything was too foreign here. It was all wrong. She needed to find Nettlekit and return to camp as soon as possible, but how? And she still had no idea where Appledusk had mysteriously disappeared to. Ramona’s words about Clan cats suddenly made Mapleshade feel a prick of worry for the RiverClan tom. How likely was it that Ramona had recognized him from the start, and had one of her cats take care of him? 

To her relief, Appledusk hauled himself onto the upper level. “There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” he meowed, bounding forward.

“Fluffy! I’m so glad to see you,” Mapleshade purred, pressing against him, rubbing against his flank. Appledusk gave her a confused look, but quietly realized what she was doing. 

Playing along with the act, Appledusk nuzzled her. “So am I, 'Mittens.' I was starting to think you ran away.”

Mapleshade pulled back. She could feel Ramona’s gaze burning into her fur, eyeing them suspiciously. Turning to face the dark tortoiseshell, Mapleshade mewed, “This is the friend I was telling you about.”

“I see that.” Ramona curled her tail around her paws. She was staring at Appledusk so intently that Mapleshade was certain she recognized him, even if she couldn’t place his exact identity. 

“Is it okay if we stay here, at least for the night? I don’t think Mittens and I could make it another night in this weather,” Appledusk wondered, acting as oblivious as possible. 

“Of course. Make yourself comfortable.” Despite her words, Ramona’s voice was emotionless. Her gaze lingered on Appledusk a few moments longer before walking away, disappearing into the cave she had taken Mapleshade into.

“Where did you disappear to?” Mapleshade hissed. 

“I tried looking for Nettlekit but I couldn’t figure anything out. I’m sorry.”

Mapleshade looked down at the lower level, sighing. “We’ll just have to keep searching. He has to be somewhere around here. Unless…” She looked at Appledusk again, her heart sinking. “You don’t think they could be keeping him somewhere else, do you?”

Appledusk shook his head. “I doubt it. There’s safety in numbers — they know that. The queens are probably hidden away under one of these Twoleg objects.”

“It’ll take forever to search through here in that case!” Mapleshade said, exasperated.

“Don’t worry. We’ll find him. For now, lay low. Continue acting as oblivious as you’ve been, and I’ll do the same.”

“Some of your Clanmates are here,” Mapleshade told him.

Appledusk followed her gaze to where Splashfoot, Creekstep, and Carpclaw sat. He let out a sigh. “I know. I saw them when we first got here. We’ll have to do our best to avoid them. And that might mean splitting up.”

“Splitting up? But what if we need one another?” 

“It’s too risky, Mapleshade. They’ll recognize me, and if they catch us together, it won’t take them long to realize where they’ve seen you before too. So for now, let’s split up. We’ll regroup right here as soon as night falls to talk about what we’ve figured out. And once we have Nettlekit, we can leave.” Appledusk gave her a serious look as he spoke. 

Mapleshade turned away, ears flattened to her head. She couldn’t deny his plan made sense. “All right. We’ll meet here at nightfall. Don’t be late, and don’t let them recognize you.”

“I’m very good at sneaking around, in case you’ve forgotten,” Appledusk purred. 

She relaxed slightly. “…No, I guess I haven’t.” Mapleshade looked into his eyes, softening. “Good luck, Appledusk. Let’s find Nettlekit, and get out of here.”

Mapleshade slunk into another cave, her eyes darting around to make sure no one was watching her. This was the second cave she’d ventured into. She’d checked under all the strange Twoleg objects, sniffing around in hopes of picking up Nettlekit’s scent, only to come up empty-pawed. 

On the far side of the cave, she noticed a crack in the wall. Poking her head inside, she noticed several Twoleg pelts hanging above her head. Those weird hard things they wore on their bottom paws lined the back of the cave. 

Suddenly, a scent she’d grown all too familiar with over the last few moons caught her attention. A pile of deathberries were gathered in the corner, along with some unfamiliar herbs.

“…We have plenty for our next trip into the forest,” a voice meowed as it came into earshot.

Mapleshade ducked under a wooden structure. She peered out through the bottom, watching as Ramona and another cat walked past. They peered into the cave. 

“I’d wait until the weather clears up. It’ll be easier to travel that way.”

“Yes, but what if the berries shrivel up before then?”

“We’ll always be able to pick more. The yew bushes have produced more than enough this season. And if it comes to it, we can always fight.”

Mapleshade narrowed her eyes at them as she listened to their conversation. Although she’d known what they were doing all along, actually hearing them speak about it out loud with no shame made her blood burn with fury. 

Slinking underneath the wooden surface, Mapleshade slipped out through the other side where they couldn’t see her. She went back the way she came, opting to continue her search elsewhere.

It wasn’t until she decided to explore the lower level that she picked up a milky, sweet scent. It reminded her of her days in the nursery with Dawnfeather, curled up at Hazelheart’s side. 

A purr rose in Mapleshade’s throat as she followed the scent, stopping in front of a large, plush, Twoleg object raised up on wooden legs. Peering underneath, Mapleshade could see a nursing queen lying on her side, several kittens suckling at her stomach. Nettlekit’s orange-and-white body was among them. His tiny paws kneaded at the queen’s stomach. 

The queen’s head snapped up, glaring. “Who are you?” she hissed. She moved protectively over the kittens.

Mapleshade didn’t respond. She stared the queen down, contemplating her next move. If she tried to take Nettlekit back now, the other rogues would likely step in before she could get away. But if she left, the queen might move him.

StarClan, give me the strength of LionClan, the cunning of TigerClan, and the wisdom of LeopardClan. 

Mapleshade crawled forward, claws outstretched. 

“Get away from me!” the queen shrieked. 

Ignoring her plea, Mapleshade continued to wriggle forward. The queen raked her claws down Mapleshade’s shoulder. Unable to maneuver well in the tight space, Mapleshade pulled back slightly. “Give Nettlekit back,” she demanded.

The queen’s eyes widened. “You’re one of those Clan cats!” Lunging forward, she grappled with Mapleshade. As the two of them tussled, Mapleshade could feel her back being pressed against the roof of the soft Twoleg object. 

A second body squeezed past them. Mapleshade immediately recognized Appledusk. “I’ve got him!” he mumbled through a mouthful of fur. 

The queen let out a furious growl, releasing her claws from Mapleshade’s skin. Wriggling after Appledusk, she tried to hook her claws into his back leg but Mapleshade stopped her. The two she-cats tussled for a moment, Mapleshade quickly overpowering her. Darting out from beneath the object, Mapleshade and Appledusk headed for the gap in the wall. Bursting out of the den, neither cat stopped running until they were a decent distance from the camp.

Crawling under a bush, Mapleshade stopped to catch her breath and check on Nettlekit. 

“You’re all right. Don’t cry,” Mapleshade shushed, covering his tiny body with licks. 

Nettlekit hissed at her. 

“Poor little guy. I bet he’ll be relieved to make it back home,” Appledusk said. 

“Me and him both.” Mapleshade sighed, sitting up. She stared down at Nettlekit who had calmed slightly. The little cat stared up at her with one eye that had opened. “His eyes are starting to open,” she remarked, feeling a pang of sadness that the rogues had stolen such an important milestone from her sister. 

“Do you think he’s okay?” Appledusk wondered. He leaned down to sniff at Nettlekit, who hissed at him. Appledusk pulled back, letting out an amused purr. “We’ve got a ferocious warrior on our paws here.”

“He’s fine,” Mapleshade said immediately. Nettlekit was skinnier than when she’d last seen him, but she refused to consider the idea her kin was unhealthy. He was fine, and once she got to camp, Ravenwing would be able to check him over, and he’d be back at Dawnfeather’s side where he belonged.

She gently picked Nettlekit up by the scruff, not wanting to waste any more time. She’d had enough of the Twoleg’s Place for a lifetime, and now that she had what she’d come here for, she never wanted to come back. 

Mapleshade leaped from the Twoleg fence into the forest below. She sank to the ground, grateful to feel the familiar earth beneath her paw pads once again. 

Appledusk landed beside her, setting Nettlekit down. With the rain behind them (and Mapleshade’s desperation to be home) their trip home had gone faster than either of them had anticipated. Nettlekit had done fairly well himself, with Mapleshade chewing up tiny bits of meat to subside his hunger for the time being. 

Now they were back in ThunderClan’s territory where they belonged.

Sitting up, Mapleshade gazed out at the familiar terrain, feeling a swell of pride. “This is your home,” she told Nettlekit. He blinked up at her, oblivious to everything she was saying. 

“Come on, let’s get you back to camp. Your mother is worried sick about you.” As she went to pick him up, she hesitated. Lifting her head, she met Appledusk’s gaze head-on. “Thank you for everything. I couldn’t have done this without you.” Her words were sincere. 

Appledusk flicked an ear. “You’re welcome. It was the right thing to do. And now, everything’s as it should be.” Appledusk stretched forward, arching his back in the air. “Well, I should probably get going. Gotta prepare myself to get chewed out by all of RiverClan.” Despite his words, there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

“What do you think they'll do to you?”

“Oh, I’ll probably be stuck clearing up after the elders for the rest of my life. I wouldn’t even be surprised if she changed my name back to ‘Applepaw.’ That’d be humiliating.” He pretended to shudder.

“I’m sure it would. You’d be the laughing stock of all the Clans,” Mapleshade teased. 

“Don’t remind me. I’m scared enough as it is. Anyway—-” Appledusk walked back, touching his nose to Nettlekit’s fur. “Keep safe, little guy. And be sure to keep Mapleshade in check. She needs a friend.”

Nettlekit hissed at him again.

Mapleshade purred. Turning back to Appledusk she meowed, “Don’t worry. I’ll let him know you helped me rescue him.”

“Good. I’d hate for him to grow up hating me after everything I’ve done for him.” Appledusk’s whiskered twitched. He then nodded to Mapleshade, disappearing into the undergrowth.

As Mapleshade watched him go, Appledusk’s words repeated in her mind. Despite being from different Clans, she couldn’t deny the truth any longer: Appledusk was her friend. There was no way she could consider him anything less than after all the trouble he’d gone through to help her. He was friendly, good-natured, kind, and everything she admired, even if his initial tendency to wander annoyed her. 

She was glad to know him, and forever grateful for everything he’d done to help return Nettlekit to ThunderClan. 

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-one

Mapleshade raced through the forest, her legs feeling as if they’d been replaced with wings as she made her way back to ThunderClan’s camp.

Never had she been gone for so long, but now that the ravine was in sight, her heart soared. Carefully, she climbed down the rocky path, squeezing through the gorse tunnel. Lifting her head high, she met the looks of surprise on her Clanmate’s faces head-on. 

“Mapleshade, you’re back!” Goldenmist hurried forward, eyes wide. “And you found Nettlekit. I don’t believe it!”

“It’s a miracle from StarClan,” Oakstar meowed, standing next to Goldenmist. He sniffed at Mapleshade’s flank. “You must tell us what happened, but first: are you injured?”

“And what about Nettlekit? Is he all right?” Goldenmist looked toward the nursery. “Embershine, go get Dawnfeather!”

Embershine, who was already heading in that direction, slipped into the bramble den. Dawnfeather darted out a second later, rushing to meet her kin. She covered Nettlekit in frantic licks, her entire body shaking.

“You brought him home. You have no idea how worried I was, about both of you!” Dawnfeather nuzzled Mapleshade. 

“We thought the rogues had killed you when you never came back,” Embershine said. “And we weren’t sure what poor Nettlekit had waiting for him either.”

Mapleshade nuzzled Dawnfeather back. Thoughts of her sister’s safety had plagued her ever since she’d taken off to rescue Nettlekit. Knowing she’d survived the attack made her heart at peace. “I’ve got a few cuts, but nothing serious, Oakstar,” Mapleshade told her leader, looking back at him. “There’s a lot I want to tell you.”

A grim look crossed Oakstar’s face. “We’ll discuss it later. Right now, I want you and Nettlekit to go see Ravenwing.”

“So some of RiverClan’s warriors left to join the rogues,” Oakstar murmured. 

Mapleshade nodded. “Three of them, from what I could tell. It’s possible there were more of them, but I didn’t take the time to look.”

Oakstar fell silent. Mapleshade could only assume he was trying to think back on something. “I've noticed some of their warriors have been missing for a while now. I thought it was odd Darkstar never said anything, but now I know why. Thank you for sharing this with me." Oakstar's eyes narrowed. "However..."

Mapleshade’s tail drooped. 

“It’s not up to you to take off like that. You should’ve come directly to me first. You could’ve died out there, alone in the Twolegs Place like that, and then none of us would’ve known what happened to you. Nettlekit would’ve never been found, and then what?” Oakstar sighed as though he were lecturing an apprentice who forgot to check the elders for ticks. 

“I know, Oakstar, but there was no time. I had to do it like this,” Mapleshade argued. “We never would’ve found him otherwise.”

“You didn’t have to. You wanted to because you thought you knew better. You thought you could figure this out on your own. You didn’t think to consult the rest of us. We would’ve helped you, Mapleshade.”

The fur on the back of her neck began to bristle. Digging her claws into the ground, she met his expression straight on. “I brought him back, didn’t I?”

“That’s not the point. The point is you risked your life without telling any of us first. You can’t just run off into the face of danger doing whatever you want, because you think you know what you’re doing!” Oakstar huffed.

“I know it was dangerous, but does that really matter now? Nettlekit is safe. I’m safe. I won’t do something like this again if that’s what you’re worried about. But in the meantime, the least you could do is thank me!” Mapleshade snapped. 

Oakstar’s eyes widened. Before he could say anything, the lichen at the entrance to his den swished, and Birchface walked in. 

“I came back to camp as soon as I heard the news!” he explained. He pressed against her flank, purring. 

Mapleshade tensed at first. “How did you know?” 

Birchface lifted his head. “Bloomheart came to the training grounds and told us. At first, I thought he was joking, but… you’re really home!”

“Training grounds?” Mapleshade echoed. What was Birchface doing there? He didn’t have an apprentice of his own.

“I’ve been training Crowpaw since you disappeared,” he explained. “I know I can never replace you as her mentor, but I thought since you were gone…”

Mapleshade touched her nose to his shoulder. “Thank you, Birchface. That was really nice of you. How is Crowpaw?” Her stomach flipped with guilt as she thought about her apprentice. Crowpaw had already been distraught over Rabbitfur’s death, so Mapleshade could only imagine what the young she-cat was feeling after her mentor’s unexpected disappearance. 

“She’s doing well. You’re a good mentor, Mapleshade. You’ve taught her a lot. I was surprised. But come on, she’ll be dying to see you again. She was worried sick when you disappeared.” Birchface nudged her toward the entrance.

“Mapleshade and I were having a conversation,” Oakstar spoke up, eyeing his son. 

Birchface flicked an ear, an unreadable expression crossing his face. “And you can finish it another time.”

To Mapleshade’s relief, Oakstar didn’t say anything else. She followed Birchface over to the fresh-kill pile where Crowpaw was standing.

Crowpaw let out an excited mew, pressing against Mapleshade’s side, her tail held high. “I’m so happy to see you. I thought you were dead. And… this might sound silly, but I was starting to think I was cursed!”

“Cursed?” Mapleshade echoed. 

“Yeah, cursed. Because of everything that’s been happening lately with Rowanfur, Deerpaw, and Rabbitfur. And then you disappeared, and Nettlekit too. We all thought you were dead.” Crowpaw ducked her head, shuffling her paws in the sand.

“Well, you’re not cursed. And I’m glad to see you again. Both of you.” Mapleshade glanced at Birchface. “You have no idea how good it is to be home. I never want to step paw anywhere near the Twoleg’s Place again!”

“I can’t believe you navigated it all by yourself,” Birchface meowed. 

Mapleshade’s heart dropped into her stomach. She swallowed, trying to seem nonchalant. “It wasn’t easy.” That was true. Still, she felt guilty for lying to her Clanmates like this. Without Appledusk’s help, she never would’ve been able to rescue Nettlekit. She couldn’t tell them that though. Oakstar was furious enough with her. There was no telling what he would say if he learned the truth. 

This was just another thing she’d have to keep close to her chest. 

Mapleshade placed her front paws on her fluffy tail, thankful to get them off the frozen ground. 

It had been two moons since her rendezvous through the Twoleg’s Place with Appledusk. It was now the middle of leafbare, the unforgiving season sinking its claws in deep on all of the forest’s inhabitants. Normally, Mapleshade would’ve opted to stay home during a night like this, but she hadn’t been allowed to attend the last few Gatherings as punishment for taking off. She wasn’t entirely surprised by Oakstar’s decision, but she couldn’t help feeling annoyed. 

As she sat there waiting for the Gathering to start, she looked around the clearing trying to spot Appledusk. Due to the cold weather, most of the warriors in attendance had opted to stick with their own Clan, huddled together for warmth. 

RiverClan sat off to the side, their fur fluffed up. Mapleshade picked through the crowd with her eyes hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but he was nowhere to be found. Was Darkstar still punishing him? Mapleshade’s paws itched to ask one of his Clanmates about his whereabouts, but she knew how suspicious that would seem.

Suddenly, an idea came to her. She walked toward the RiverClan warriors, trying to ignore the sting in her paws from the icy ground. “How are things running in RiverClan this season?” she began, trying to seem as inconspicuous as possible. 

“Cold,” Eeltail said, shivering a bit. “I don’t imagine things are much better in ThunderClan?”

“I’m afraid not. We’ve got as much snow as the rest of you,” Mapleshade meowed.

“I’d imagine WindClan’s taken the brunt of this weather, being out in the open like they are,” Lilynose interrupted. “Can’t imagine how any of them make it out alive.”

“Everyone knows WindClan cats are half-rabbit. They burrow underground. Keeps them warm,” Eeltail teased.

“Maybe we should try that. I’m tired of getting my paws soaked every day in this weather, and that’s saying something!” Lilynose snorted. 

“Don’t think about crossing the river into ThunderClan’s territory now that the river is frozen,” Mapleshade said lightheartedly.

Eeltail shook her head. “Wouldn’t do us any good even if we did. We’d still be as cold over there as we are in our own territory. And just as wet. Only difference is over there, we wouldn’t have any fish to eat.”

“Is the prey running well?” Mapleshade wondered.

“We’re surviving.” Eeltail straightened up. A look of suspicion flitted across her face. “This isn’t the first leafbare we’ve gone through, and it won’t be our last. I hope the same can be said about ThunderClan?”

Mouse-dung! “Yes, of course. I was just wondering. I noticed one of your warriors, Appledusk, out on the ice the other day, and it made me curious. That’s all,” Mapleshade lied. 

“Appledusk?” Lilynose’s eyes widened. “What was he doing out there?” she hissed to Eeltail, so faintly Mapleshade barely registered it.

“I don’t know, but are you really surprised?"

“No, I guess not. Do you think we should tell Darkstar?”

Eeltail shook her head. “Let it go. He’s not worth it.”

Mapleshade frowned. So Appledusk was still being punished after all. She couldn’t believe that after all this time, his Clanmates would still hold a grudge against him. With a pang in her chest, she recounted what he shared with her about Cherrypaw. If Eeltail’s words were anything to go by, it seemed as though Redtail wasn’t the only RiverClan warrior holding a bit of contempt for Appledusk. It must’ve grown after his unexplained disappearance, especially considering several of their warriors had abandoned them right before.

“Don’t say anything,” Reedshine urged. “Appledusk has been through enough. There’s no point in getting him into more trouble.”

“You know, I’m not even sure it was Appledusk I saw. I could’ve been mistaken,” Mapleshade blurted out. 

Reedshine narrowed her eyes. “You probably were, ThunderClan cat. Like you can even tell your own paws from your tail.”

Lilynose let out a purr of amusement.

“Don’t,” Eeltail sighed.

“But she’s trying to see how vulnerable we are,” Reedshine argued. 

Mapleshade glared. “No, I wasn’t. I was just curious.”

“In that case, wait for Darkstar to make her report. She’ll tell you all you need to know about RiverClan since you’re so ‘curious.’” Reedshine turned away with a huff, going to sit closer to the center for warmth.

What an insufferable little mouse-brain! Mapleshade thought, stomping back to her Clanmates. She sandwiched herself between Birchface and Graytuft, grateful for their body heat. 

“Where’d you disappear to?” Graytuft wondered, shivering a bit at the coldness of her fur.

Mapleshade rubbed her paws on her tail. “I wanted to see how RiverClan was doing now that the river’s frozen.”

“I don’t expect you got an answer from them,” Birchface remarked.

“No.” Mapleshade glanced over her shoulder at Reedshine, then back at Birchface. “But that Reedshine sure is a mouse-brain. I don’t know how anyone puts up with her.”

“Maybe that’s why some of RiverClan’s warriors ran away?” Graytuft joked. 

Mapleshade snorted. “Probably. I’d run away too if she were my Clanmate. StarClan help them!”

It wasn’t long before the leaders leaped onto the Great Rock, beginning the Gathering. There wasn’t much to report for this time of year, although Sablestar had sad news to share: one of WindClan’s elders, Midgepelt, was attacked by a badger and later succumbed to his injuries. 

As soon as the report came to a close, every Clan went their separate directions, ready for the warmth of their nests. 

With one last look towards RiverClan, Mapleshade couldn’t ignore the disappointment she felt knowing that Appledusk wasn’t in attendance. She couldn’t shake her feeling of guilt, either. It was her fault Appledusk was being punished so harshly. Sure, he’d opted to come out of his own volition, but Mapleshade knew he wouldn't of done this for any other cat. He'd gone out of his way to help her because he liked her, and now he was being punished for it.

“Are you tired?” Birchface asked, shaking her from her thoughts.

“Not really, but my paws are killing me.”

“Mine too. I’m going to talk Beetail into postponing the dawn patrol if I can. It’s too cold in the mornings.”

“You should ask if you can join Crowpaw and me on the sunhigh hunting patrol. I promised I’d take her hunting near Snakerocks tomorrow,” Mapleshade suggested. 

Birchface held his tail up high. “That’s a brilliant idea. Any prey in the area will be drawn to the warmth in the rocks, and we won’t have to worry about adders this time of year. I’m sure we could come out of it with a couple of mice.”

“It’ll be good to test Crowpaw’s skills, too. I’ve been postponing her assessment because of the weather.”

Birchface let out a wistful sigh. “I can’t believe it’s almost time for that. I wish I had an apprentice of my own. We could’ve been mentors together.” 

Mapleshade frowned. “There’s always next time. Maybe you’ll get one of Dawnfeather’s kits. Or even one of Embershine’s?”

“Maybe, but that’s still a long way off. Embershine’s haven’t even been born yet,” Birchface said. 

“They’ll still need mentors when the time comes,” Mapleshade pointed out. 

“True. I guess I just can’t help feeling disappointed. I feel like I’ve missed out on so much since I got sick. I’m finally getting back to where I was, but it’s hard to look around and realize the world didn’t wait up for me.” 

Mapleshade blinked at him sympathetically. “That’s because you’re on your own path. I know it’s hard, but you can’t compare yourself to everyone else. StarClan has something planned for you that no one else can do.”

Birchface shook his head. “I wish I could believe that. But right now, all I can see is a burden and a disappointment.” 

Mapleshade stood at the top of the ravine, watching as Birchface disappeared through the gorse tunnel. She longed for the right words to comfort him, but her tongue caught in her throat. Birchface was her friend, and here she was, unable to console him.

“Don’t worry about him,” Goldenmist whispered, falling into place next to Mapleshade. “He’ll be fine. The cold weather’s got him down, is all.”

“I can’t help but feel bad for him.” Mapleshade carefully stepped on a rock, testing to make sure it wasn’t too slippery. “He’s the only one of us who hasn’t had an apprentice yet.”

“Dawnfeather hasn’t either,” Goldenmist pointed out. 

“That’s different. She’s in the nursery right now.”

“And Birchface has been sick to no fault of his own. He needed time to heal. Giving him an apprentice would’ve been too much for him to handle at the time.” Goldenmist sighed. “This is going to sound selfish of me, but I’m glad Birchface doesn’t have an apprentice. It makes dealing with what happened to Deerpaw easier. I don’t think I would’ve handled it as well as I did if I had to watch my brother console me before rushing off to train his own apprentice.”

Mapleshade squeezed through the gorse tunnel after her. “It’s selfish, but I understand.”

“Good. I was starting to think I was the biggest fox-heart in the entire forest,” Goldenmist confessed. 

“Well, like I said to Birchface, maybe you’ll get one of Dawnfeather or Embershine’s kits? And you know, newleaf always makes the nursery a bit more crowded.”

Goldenmist’s whiskers twitched. “You’re not hinting at something, are you?”

Mapleshade’s jaw dropped. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Pity. It’s about time you and Birchface settled down.”

Mapleshade stopped in her tracks. “Excuse me? Where in silverpelt did you get that idea from?” 

“Are you really going to keep playing at that game, Mapleshade? We’re all fully grown cats now. You can admit to the fact you’re in love with my brother. Don’t worry, I won’t tell him if that’s what you’re concerned about. Although I’m not ashamed to tell you I think he feels the same.”

Mapleshade pushed past her, rolling her eyes. “I’m not worried about anything, because it’s not true. He’s my friend, and he’s my Clanmate. I care about him just as much as say, Seedpelt or…” She looked around the clearing, blurting out the name of the first cat she saw, “Mistpaw.”

“You’re so stubborn,” Goldenmist grumbled. “But fine. I’ll drop it. To be honest, it’s probably not a good time for him to settle down anyway. He’s still shaken up by what happened. It’s been so long that sometimes I worry he’s never going to get over it…”

“He’ll be fine,” Mapleshade snapped. She sighed inwardly, not intending to come off as harshly as she had, but Goldenmist’s teasing had gotten under her skin. She didn’t think of Birchface as anything more than a friend, and for Goldenmist to insinuate otherwise, rubbed her the wrong way. 

“I’m going to my nest now. I have plans tomorrow,” Mapleshade mumbled. As she curled up among the bracken fronds, she became all too aware of Birchface’s sleeping form pressing against her back.

She didn’t catch a wink of sleep that night. 

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-Two

Beads of water dripped from the branches above as the snow began to melt, signifying the end of leafbare. It was a welcomed sight, but that didn’t mean the forest was completely free from the chill that crept through the trees in the morning.

Mapleshade bowed her head at the river’s edge taking a long drink of the fresh, cold water. She’d been lapping frost from the grass every morning for so long she’d forgotten what a drink from the river was like. 

Motion from the opposite bank caught her attention. Her eyes darted up as she took another sip. There, Appledusk appeared, causing her heart to leap. She hadn’t caught sight of him since the two of them returned from their trip into the Twoleg’s Place to rescue Nettlekit. That had been three, almost four, moons ago. 

“Appledusk!” Mapleshade called. 

Appledusk’s eyes widened in surprise. Slipping into the river, he swam to the opposite bank, coming to stand a few tail-lengths away. “Mapleshade. How are you doing? And how’s Nettlekit?”

“He’s doing really good. It won’t be long before he’s apprenticed. Can you believe that? Just two more moons.” Mapleshade’s eyes gleamed with pride at the thought.

“Wow, already? Time flies, I guess.”

Mapleshade looked him over. He was skinnier than the last time they talked, but that was to be expected during leafbare. “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you at any of the Gatherings. Don’t tell me you’re still being punished?”

“I wasn’t exaggerating when I told you Darkstar was going to make me clean out the elder’s den for the rest of my life,” Appledusk purred. Despite his playful tone, Mapleshade didn't miss the sadness and exhaustion in his eyes. 

“I’m sorry I got you in that situation,” she apologized. 

Appledusk rolled his eyes. “You didn’t do anything. Don’t apologize, please. I knew exactly what I was doing. And I don’t regret it, even if it’s caused me to get a few more dirty looks than I was used to.”

“Are they still giving you a hard time?”

Appledusk flicked an ear. “Not anymore, no. They’ve mostly moved on by this point.”

“But you’re still not allowed to attend the Gathering?”

“Oh, that.” Appledusk ducked his head in embarrassment. “I could’ve gone to the last one, but I got caught in a net — some weird Twoleg object they use to catch fish. Twisted my paw really bad. It was embarrassing. But it’s all healed up now. See?” He held out his paw to show her.

“Ouch.” Mapleshade recoiled. “I hope you didn’t lose any of your claws.”

“No, but that did happen to Fenneltail once. Now that’s something you never want to see.” He shuddered dramatically. 

“How are the rest of your Clanmates, paw injuries aside?” Mapleshade wondered. 

Appledusk looked around. “Oh, same as always. Darkstar’s suspicious of her own shadow. Cloudberry’s still working her tail off as medicine cat. She said Echostorm’s thinking of retiring soon, so she’s nervous about that. But I know she can handle it on her own. She’s a smart cat.”

“And what about Reedshine?” Mapleshade couldn’t help but ask about the ginger she-cat.

To her surprise, Appledusk meowed, “She’s fine. She’s one of the few cats who didn’t treat me like complete fish-guts when I came back.”

An unknown feeling rose inside Mapleshade. She dug her claws into the ground, steeling herself. “Is that so?”

“Yeah. I was a bit surprised, to be honest. Reedshine can be quite intense, so I wasn’t sure what she’d think when I came back. But to my surprise, she’s been tolerable. Still, she’s nothing compared to your company.”

Mapleshade’s eyes shot open. “My company?” she echoed, unsure she’d heard him correctly. 

Appledusk tilted his head to the side, his eyes gleaming with the familiar lightheartedness she was so used to. “I missed you, Mapleshade. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about our trip together. We make a good team.”

She swallowed, not sure how to reply. In all actuality, she felt the same. She wasn’t ready to admit that out loud though, a sense of guilt still weighing on her conscious about the whole ordeal. “Is that so?”

“It is.” He arched his back, stretching his limbs. “You know, I was surprised when you called out to me just now, but I’m glad you did. We should hang out more often.”

“We can’t,” Mapleshade blurted out. 

Appledusk sat up, blinking in confusion. “And why is that?”

“Because it’s against the warrior code!” Mapleshade said, exasperated. “I shouldn’t have even called you over here.”

“Then why did you?”

Mapleshade glared at him. “Because I was surprised to see you. That’s all.”

“Mapleshade, nothing’s going to happen if we spend time together. You know I’m not going to steal any prey from you, and hedgehogs will fly before you ever try to step paw into the river to steal from me. Those rules only exist to keep the bad cats in line, but we can trust one another. You know you can trust me.” Appledusk leaned forward. “Think about it. Just once. If you don’t like it, we’ll forget it ever happened.”

Mapleshade fell silent. She looked down at her paws, shuffling them on the wet grass underpaw. She knew it was wrong, but there was a part of her that wanted to spend time with him. 

“Where do you want to meet?” she finally asked, looking him in the eye.

“What about Sunningrocks?” he suggested.

“Fine. We’ll meet at Sunningrocks. When?”

“Three days from now, at moonhigh. That way you have plenty of time to think things over and change your mind if you want. No hard feelings if you do. I just… hope I’ll see you there,” Appledusk meowed. 

“Right.” Mapleshade sighed. She stood to her paws. “I have to go. It was nice seeing you again, Appledusk. And I’ll see you at Sunningrocks.”

“Remember, three days from now!” he called as she disappeared into the forest. 

Heart pounding, Mapleshade slunk down the ridge to where Sunningrocks sat. The forest was drenched in darkness. Creeping onto the rocks, she opened her mouth to scent the air. To her disappointment, the air was stale. 

Tucking her paws underneath her body, Mapleshade waited for Appledusk to arrive. She couldn’t believe she’d come to meet him like this. 

With every passing moment, a sense of dread began to creep over her. Had he stood her up? Was this all an elaborate ruse to get her to lower her guard? Just as she was about to leave—

“Sorry, I’m late. I had a hard time sneaking out of camp,” Appledusk apologized, clambering onto the shore. He shook his pelt out scattering water droplets everywhere.

Mapleshade backed away, glaring. “How do you put up with that?”

“I’m used to it,” Appledusk meowed.

She wrinkled her nose. “You’ll never convince me that getting your fur soaked is natural. Isn’t it cold?”

“It can be, but it’s like I said— I’m used to it.”

“I find it hard to believe any cat could get used to that.”

“You’ve never even tried it!” Appledusk bounded towards the river’s edge. He poked the surface with a paw, watching Mapleshade as he did so. “Come here.”

Mapleshade’s eyes shot wide. “No! I’m not getting wet. Have you grown moss in your brain?”

“Please? I promise you it isn’t as bad as you think. Just get your paws wet and you’ll see,” Appledusk begged. He waded a little deeper into the water. “I’ll be right here with you. You’ll be safe with me.”

Mapleshade shook her head, backing up. “No. Absolutely not. Besides, what would my Clanmates think if I came home sopping wet in the middle of the night?”

“You could always lie and say you were sleepwalking.”

Mapleshade walked to the water’s edge, splashing him in the face. Appledusk pulled back, eyes wide. Relaxing, letting out a loud purr of amusement. 

“That doesn’t work on me. I told you I’m used to it,” he said, clambering out of the water. It streamed from his fur leaving a puddle beneath their paws. 

“Don’t shake your fur out and get me wet.” Mapleshade gave him a stern look.

“I wasn’t going to. But come on— just dip one paw into the water.” 

Mapleshade turned her snout upwards, ears back as she let out a disgruntled huff. He was mad to suggest such a thing. But there was a slight hint of curiosity towards the back of her mind. “Fine. One paw.”

She trudged towards the river, eyeing the water as it washed against the sandy shoreline. She shot Appledusk an apprehensive look, lifting out one paw, inching it closer and closer. Closing her eyes, Mapleshade dunked her paw beneath the surface, wincing as her leg sunk deeper into the water than intended. It was colder than expected, but she held her leg in the water.

“See? It’s not that bad, right?” Appledusk walked into the water a few badger-lengths away so as to not splash her. 

“It’s freezing,” Mapleshade hissed. 

Suddenly, something slimy brushed against the back of her leg causing Mapleshade to jump into the air. Scrambling for the shore, she looked back at the water with eyes as round as the moon as if expecting a monster to crawl from its depths.

“It was just a piece of a plant,” Appledusk chuckled, following her.

“I don’t care what it was. It was slimy and gross. And I told you the water is freezing!” Mapleshade licked at her wet leg, stopping occasionally to lift her gaze and shoot him a glare.

Appledusk settled in next to her. He began washing his pelt, purring as he did so. “Don’t tell me a plant is enough to take you down,” he mrrowed. 

Mapleshade rolled her eyes. “Of course not. I’m just used to keeping all four paws on dry ground, like a normal cat. You should try it sometime.” She lapped at her soaking leg, trying to dry herself off.

“Contrary to popular belief, us RiverClan cats do actually spend time on dry land. We aren’t completely waterlogged. Well, not all of us anyway. I’ve got a couple of Clanmates who look like they’re part fish.”

She rolled her eyes again. “You’re hilarious.”

They continued to talk well into the night. It wasn’t until faint, pink light began to rise in the direction of Highstones that Mapleshade realized how late she’d stayed out. 

Panic surged through her body as she leaped to her paws. “I have to go. I didn’t mean to stay out so late,” she told him. 

Appledusk’s ears and tail drooped. “Already?”

“It’s almost dawn.” Mapleshade let out a breath as the realization of what she’d done washed over her. She couldn’t believe she’d allowed herself to get comfortable breaking the warrior code like this. Appledusk was a RiverClan warrior. It didn’t matter if he’d helped her in the past, her loyalty was to ThunderClan. 

“We can’t see each other like this anymore,” Mapleshade meowed. She swallowed, her throat suddenly going dry as she forced out the next words, “And I think it’s better if we stay away from one another in the future.”

Appledusk gave her a dejected look. “What? Why?”

Mapleshade lashed her tail. “This is against the warrior code, Appledusk. We’ll get in trouble if either of our Clan finds out about this. I know you don’t care about the warrior code, but I do.” Memories of their past conversation flashed through her mind, but she pushed it away. She wouldn’t let him talk her into doing the wrong thing any longer.

Appledusk narrowed his eyes at her.

“Cats get hurt when they do what we’re doing. That’s why these rules exist,” Mapleshade continued. 

“Are you hurt?” Appledusk asked.

Mapleshade stared at him. “No. But—”

“We’ve spent a lot of time together, and nothing bad has ever come from it. I’ve never asked you to choose me over your loyalty to your Clan. I’ve never expected you to fight on my side in battle. All I’m asking for is your friendship,” Appledusk interrupted. “There’s an entire world outside of the limits of the warrior code. Don’t let a bunch of dead cats control how you get to experience that.”

Mapleshade didn’t know how to respond to that. She just dipped her head and walked into the treeline. She could feel his gaze burning into her pelt as she walked, but she didn’t bother to look back. 

Shame pricked her pelt as she stopped to hunt on her way home. All she managed to catch was a meager squirrel, causing her embarrassment to grow.  Thankfully, no one was awake when she slipped into camp through the dirt-place. 

Not wanting to face any of her Clanmates, Mapleshade curled up beneath a bush at the edge of the camp, Appledusk’s words repeating in her mind over and over again as she fell into a dreamless sleep. 

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-Three 

Tendrils of mist snaked through the trees as Mapleshade stalked Crowpaw. Her apprentice was some distance away, her mouth open as she stopped to taste the air. 

She was after a chaffinch. Mapleshade could smell it from here. Cautiously, she tucked her paws beneath her body, waiting to see what Crowpaw would do next. 

The black she-cat pulled herself forward, eyes locked on the bird. Quick as lightning, she pounced, killing the bird instantly. “Thank you, StarClan,” Crowpaw whispered, closing her eyes.

After a moment of prayer, Crowpaw kicked earth over the bird to collect it for later. She bounded deeper into the forest, heading for Snakerocks.

Mapleshade had purposefully sent her this way, wanting to keep as far as possible from Sunningrocks as she could. It had been a week since her meeting with Appledusk, and she still couldn’t shake her guilt. She couldn’t believe she’d allowed herself to do something so idiotic. 

By sunhigh, Crowpaw had caught an additional sparrow and vole, along with her chaffinch. Her eyes glimmered as she stubbornly carried her catches back to camp.

Mapleshade let out a purr of amusement. “You did well today. I’m proud of you. I was especially pleased when you picked up that fox scent near the Thunderpath. I could hardly smell it over the stench from the monsters.”

Crowpaw’s tail wiggled as she pranced forward, her prey still hanging from her jaws. 

“I’m going to let Oakstar know how well you did as soon as we get back to camp, so make sure you’re ready for your ceremony,” Mapleshade told her. 

Crowpaw sat her prey down. “Do you think Stormpaw will get his name too? I don’t think I could go through with the ceremony without him.”

“I don’t know. It depends on how he does.” Mapleshade touched her nose to Crowpaw’s ear. “But if Stormpaw is anything like you, I’d say he’ll manage just fine.”

Crowpaw didn’t look convinced. She shuffled her paws on the ground. 

Mapleshade leaned towards her. “Keep this between us, alright?” she whispered, looking around dramatically. 

Crowpaw lifted her head. “What is it?” 

“I heard that Mistpelt got spooked by a falling acorn during her assessment, and allowed a rabbit to escape. And she still passed.” 

Crowpaw’s eyes widened for a second. A loud rumble came from her chest as she purred with amusement. “Where did you hear that from?” she squeaked.

“I can’t tell you. But us mentors have a way of knowing. Now come on. You’ve got a naming ceremony to attend!” Mapleshade snatched Crowpaw’s chaffinch, giving her a teasing look as she bounded in the direction of the camp.

Lungs heaving, Mapleshade and Crowpaw collapsed in front of the fresh-kill pile. Despite their exhaustion, Crowpaw’s eyes were still gleaming. 

As soon as Stormpaw walked into camp, Crowpaw ran over to him, her tail held high. “Did you pass?” 

Stormpaw nodded. “What about you?” He looked past Crowpaw, eyeing Mapleshade curiously. 

“She did a brilliant job. You should’ve seen the chaffinch she caught.” The gorse tunnel swayed as Graytuft brushed through, jaw filled with prey. “I see Crowpaw isn’t the only capable hunter here.”

Graytuft set the prey down. His eyes gleamed. “This rabbit is enough to feed the entire nursery,” he remarked. 

“Should I take it to them now?” Stormpaw wondered.

Graytuft dipped his head. “Go ahead. I’m sure the queens will be excited to have it.”

“And you,” Mapleshade turned back to Crowpaw, “should take your sparrow to Ravenwing. He’s been working hard lately, and I know he’d appreciate it.”

Crowpaw darted across the clearing without hesitation, leaving Graytuft and Mapleshade alone. 

“It feels like things are finally starting to look up,” Graytuft said as he sat down, wrapping his tail around his paws. Aside from a small skirmish with the rogues near the Treecut Place several moons back, and a brief bought of whitecough which Ravenwing had quickly taken care of, things had been peaceful. 

“I agree. We’ve got several new warriors. The nursery is overflowing. The other Clans are staying in their place. It’s been good.” A jolt of guilt pierced Mapleshade’s heart as she spoke, memories of her meeting with Appledusk coming to mind. She let out an awkward cough, moving away from him.

“Are you alright?” Graytuft’s ears flattened.

“I think I have a feather caught in my throat. I’ll be right back,” Mapleshade lied. 

Out in the forest, she paced back and forth. I can’t believe I allowed myself to be so mouse-brained! What was I thinking, going to meet him like that? 

Suddenly a thought stopped Mapleshade in her tracks. Was she… lonely? Is that why she’d invited Appledusk into her life so candidly? It made sense, now that she thought about it. Dawnfeather had a family of her own now, which meant she didn’t get to spend as much time with Mapleshade. She’d never been particularly close with Goldenmist. And Birchface…

Things hadn’t been the same between them since Dovesong’s death. Even though the tension between them had started to fade in the aftermath of his sickness, they’d never regained the closeness they’d shared so long ago. He’d been her only real friend, Mapleshade realized, and with a rift between them wider than the Thunderpath, it was no wonder Mapleshade had been drawn to Appledusk.

Despite her sudden realization, Mapleshade couldn’t deny that was the only reason she felt drawn to Appledusk. He was friendly and easygoing. It was easy to forget her problems with him at her side. Everyone else seemed so serious all the time -- worrying about threats to the Clan, hunting patrols, refreshing the scent marks along the border. It was exhausting.

“Mapleshade? Did you talk to Oakstar yet?” Crowpaw’s voice broke Mapleshade’s train of thought.

Leaping to her paws, Mapleshade gave her a wide-eyed look. “I forgot. I’ll get on that right away. Sorry, Crowpaw.” Giving her fur a couple of embarrassed licks, Mapleshade followed her apprentice back to camp.

Oakstar stood atop the Highrock, his imposing figure blocking out the sun shining from behind him. “Crowpaw,” he called, “do you promise to uphold the warrior code even at the cost of your life?”

Crowpaw inched forward, shivering with excitement. “Yes. Of course, Oakstar.”

Oakstar leaped from the rocks, coming to stand before Stormpaw and Crowpaw. He touched his nose to the top of their heads before stepping back. “From this moment forward, the two of you shall be known as Stormwhisker and Crowfrost. I welcome you as fully-fledged warriors of ThunderClan.”

“Stormwhisker, Crowfrost!” Mapleshade shouted.

Crowfrost shot Mapleshade a grateful look before being swallowed up by the crowd of excited warriors. As Mapleshade hung back, she felt Bloomheart’s presence at her side.

“Is this how you felt when I received my name?” she wondered.

“Oh, yes. But at the same time, I was a little sad. You train your apprentice daily for several moons, and suddenly they don’t need you anymore. It’s a little bittersweet,” Bloomheart answered. “But it’s always worth it in the end, knowing you’re responsible for the next generation of warriors.”

Mapleshade’s gaze softened as she shot Crowfrost another look. “I can understand that. I’m a bit sad myself. I was fortunate to get to mentor her.”

“There will be others in the future,” Bloomheart told her. 

“You think so?” 

Bloomheart nodded. “The nursery is overflowing right now. You’re bound to get another apprentice sooner than later. I wouldn’t mind having another one, myself. It’ll probably be the last one I take before I retire, though.”

“Retire? You’re still a young cat. I know you’ve got plenty more seasons in you.” Mapleshade nudged his shoulder. 

“Tell that to my joints. I’ve gone to see Ravenwing about them so many times lately I can tell he’s started to lose his patience.”

“Someone’s got to use the herbs he collects, or else they’ll go to waste,” Mapleshade pointed out.

“Yes, but they’re supposed to be for the entire Clan, not just me. And I’m not the only cat with aching joints around here.” Bloomheart watched Deerdapple as she strode past. She paused, her ear flicking.

“I hope you’re not talking about me. My pelt might be silver, but it's not because of old age." Deerdapple’s eyes narrowed, although her tone was friendly.

“Of course not.” Bloomheart left Mapleshade’s side, following Deerdapple to the fresh-kill pile.

Now alone, Mapleshade decided to seek out Crowfrost to congratulate her personally. Now that the crowd had died down, Mapleshade caught her speaking with Doefeather, Mistpelt, and Stormwhisker.

“—And I can give you extra bracken for your nests if you’d like,” Doefeather said. She paused, looking at Mapleshade.

“Congratulations,” Mapleshade told Stormwhisker and Crowfrost.

Crowfrost pressed against Mapleshade, a purr shaking her body. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” she spoke as she finally pulled back. Her eyes softened. “I’ll miss you.”

“Miss me? I’m not going anywhere. We’ll still go on patrols and see each other around camp,” Mapleshade told her.

“I know, but it’s not the same.”

Doefeather draped her tail across Crowfrost’s back. “I know it can feel daunting being a new warrior, but trust me: you’ll be just fine. Once you get that taste of freedom, you’ll wonder what you were ever sad about.”

“Exactly,” Mapleshade said. 

Crowfrost didn’t respond at first, her head drooping. “I guess you’re right.” She suddenly perked up. “Come on. Let’s go get our nests ready,” she told Stormwhisker.

As Mapleshade watched them leave, Birchface walked through her field of vision. Her heart sank, the feelings of optimism from Crowfrost’s ceremony vanishing.

Mapleshade trekked through the forest after Seedpelt, Birchface, and Deerdapple. The faint gleam of the sunshine reflecting off the river’s surface made her pause, the dry feeling in her throat impossible to ignore. 

“I’m going to get a drink,” she announced.

“Alright. We’re going to keep heading on. You know where to meet us,” Deerdapple replied.

At the river’s edge, Mapleshade took a long drink, sighing inwardly as the refreshing water soothed her throat. Suddenly, Appledusk’s scent caught her attention. 

Lifting her head, Mapleshade’s heart dropped into her stomach as she spotted the familiar brown tom atop Sunningrocks. He dipped a paw into one of the cracks, pulling a vole out. 

What are you doing here? Mapleshade thought. She shot a panicked look towards the forest, wondering how long it would take before her Clanmates would notice him. Breaking into a brisk walk, Mapleshade hurried towards him.

“Appledusk,” she hissed, standing near him, “what are you doing?”

Appledusk’s eyes widened. He stepped away from her, tail low, ears flattened against his head. “Mapleshade.” His voice was tense, too cautious for her liking.

“My Clanmates are nearby. If they find out you’ve been hunting here—”

“They’ll what?” Reedshine appeared from the rock behind Appledusk. She stalked in front of him, coming to stand nose-to-nose with Mapleshade.

A growl rose in Mapleshade’s throat. “They’ll claw your fur off,” she said, unsheathing her claws. 

“They’d have to reach us before we have our way with you. You’re outnumbered, after all. If any cat is going to have their fur clawed off, it’ll be you,” Reedshine threatened.

Appledusk pushed Reedshine aside. He shot her a stern look. “Don’t be stupid, Reedshine. This is ThunderClan’s territory.” He pushed the vole to Mapleshade’s paws. “Just take it. Sorry for trespassing.”

Reedshine let out a frustrated whine. “That prey belongs to us. You can’t just give it back to her.” She snatched the vole up before Mapleshade could take it, tucking it underneath her tail.

“You have a lot of nerve, you know,” Mapleshade spat. 

“Do I? Or am I just taking what rightfully belongs to me?” Reedshine shot back. The edge in her tone made the fur along Mapleshade’s spine prickle. 

Appledusk’s expression gave nothing away. He refused to meet Mapleshade’s eyes, instead staring towards the river.

“Take the stupid vole. It’s hardly more than a mouthful, anyway,” Mapleshade huffed. She stormed past the two of them, disappearing into the safety of the forest. But instead of seeking out the rest of her patrol, Mapleshade ducked behind a tree, ears straining to pick out Reedshine’s voice.

“I can’t believe she gave in so easily. ThunderClan cats are so stupid,” Reedshine scoffed.

Mapleshade peered around the tree.

“And don’t listen to her, Appledusk. This was a good catch. Better than the one I caught. Want to see it?” Reedshine pressed against him, trying to nudge him to the other side of Sunningrocks.

Mapleshade dug her claws into the ground. Reedshine was too close to Appledusk for her liking. What a suck-up, Mapleshade thought bitterly.

Appledusk didn’t move. He just stared at the river dejectedly. 

Reedshine paused. “You’re not upset by what Mapleshadow said, are you?”

“Mapleshade,” Appledusk corrected her. 

“Whatever. Like there’s much of a difference. But you’re not upset, are you? Because you shouldn’t be.” Reedshine nudged him again. “Come on, I’m sure there are other voles over here.”

“No, I’m not upset. I just don’t think we should be hunting over here anymore. Let’s take these voles back to camp, and then we’ll go fishing near the bridge.” Appledusk picked up his vole.

Reedshine lashed her tail. “You always get so moody whenever you talk to her. I’ve told you I don’t like it.”

“Now you’re just making things up. I don’t even know her,” Appledusk sighed.

Mapleshade’s heart sank at his words. She knew Appledusk had no choice but to lie to Reedshine, his words hurt. Mapleshade turned away from their conversation, uninterested in hearing any more.

Suddenly, Reedshine’s voice made Mapleshade stop in her tracks. “That’s right. You don’t know her. You know me.” She pressed against him again, a purr rising in her throat.

Seeing red, Mapleshade marched after her patrol. She caught them climbing a slope, heading towards the Treecut Place. “There’s a RiverClan patrol near Sunningrocks,” she reported.

Seedpelt froze. “How many warriors are there?”

“I don’t know. At least two,” Mapleshade lied. Hoping for a fight, Mapleshade took them back towards Sunningrocks. To her excitement, Reedshine and Appledusk were still there — and they’d caught more prey.

“Trespassers!” Deerdapple shouted, bursting out of the forest. 

Reedshine hissed, hackles raising. Appledusk sat there calmly. 

“Prey thieves too, by the look of it,” Birchface commented, wrinkling his nose in disgust. 

“Sunningrocks belongs to RiverClan,” Reedshine repeated.

“Then why haven’t you been able to keep it? You all must be pretty lousy warriors if you can’t defend a couple of rocks. No wonder you had to recruit a bunch of rogues,” Mapleshade retorted.

That was all it took before Reedshine launched herself at Mapleshade. Her claws raked down Mapleshade’s face. Hooking her paws beneath Reedshine’s front legs, Mapleshade knocked her off balance, throwing her to the ground. The two she-cats tussled on the ground, shrieking, fur flying.

Appledusk grabbed Mapleshade by the scruff, hauling her off Reedshine. Mapleshade’s back legs scrabbled at the ground, kicking out in frustration. When he dropped her, she rolled onto her side, glaring up at him.

Appledusk stepped in front of Reedshine, pushing her back. At the same time, Birchface moved to Mapleshade’s side, nudging her back to her paws.

“Are you okay?” he questioned.

“I’m fine.” Mapleshade gave her shoulder a quick lick. Lifting her head, she met Reedshine’s glare head-on. 

“Let’s get out of here,” she heard Appledusk murmur. 

Leaving their prey behind, Appledusk guided Reedshine back to the river. To Mapleshade’s surprise, Reedshine followed him without complaint, her tail held high. When the RiverClan warriors reached the opposite shore, they disappeared into the reeds, neither of them looking back.

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-four

Excitement filled the air as the Clan prepared for yet another ceremony, this time for Nettlekit and Flowerkit.

Dawnfeather paced around them, frantic. “Nettlekit, stop twitching the fur along your spine like that. You’re messing your pelt up.” She licked his fur smooth once more.

“I can groom myself,” Nettlekit whined. 

“Obviously, you can’t. You look like a nettle,” Dawnfeather argued.

Mapleshade sat back, letting out a purr of amusement. “It’s not that noticeable, Dawnfeather.”

Flowerkit tucked her paws closer to her body. “What about me? Is my fur smooth enough?”

Dawnfeather stopped licking Nettlekit’s fur. She looked Flowerkit over, nodding with approval. “You’re fine, Flowerkit. It’s just your brother—” she gave Nettlekit another sharp look, “keeps messing his fur up.”

“I can’t help it. I’m nervous!” Nettlekit protested. “What if I get someone mean as my mentor?” 

“You won’t get anyone mean. All of the warriors are nice, I promise,” Mapleshade said.

“I wish you could be my mentor,” Nettlekit said to Dawnfeather, pressing against her. Dawnfeather wrapped her tail around him protectively. 

“I know, but I can’t. I’d never be able to teach you what you need to know. I’d be way too soft on you, and that’s just as bad as being mean,” Dawnfeather told him. 

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Nettlekit argued. 

“Someone has to teach you how to hunt and fight. The forest is a dangerous place, after all. Dawnfeather’s worried she wouldn’t be tough enough on you to give you the skills you need,” Mapleshade explained. “That’s why other cats are typically responsible for training the apprentices. But don’t worry, Nettlekit. You’ll be just fine with whoever Oakstar chooses to mentor you.”

Nettlekit didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t argue anymore. Together with Flowerkit, he followed Mapleshade and Dawnfeather to the center of the clearing. Mapleshade hung back, allowing Thrushtalon to sit on their opposite side.

“Are you excited?” Thrushtalon wondered.

“I am,” Flowerkit meowed.

“That’s good. I’m excited too.” He gave her ear a lick. 

It wasn’t long before Oakstar leaped to the top of Highrock to announce the start of the ceremony. Flowerpaw was apprenticed to Birchface, while Nettlepaw—

“—Will be apprenticed by Mapleshade,” Oakstar decided.

Mapleshade’s eyes widened. Oakstar hadn’t mentioned anything to her about mentoring Nettlekit. It wasn’t even a thought in her mind given they were kin. Rushing forward, she touched noses with Nettlepaw as the rest of the Clan cheered in the background. 

When the excitement died down, Mapleshade caught up to Oakstar. “Why didn’t you tell me you were giving me Nettlepaw?” she wondered.

“It was a last-minute decision,” Oakstar confessed. “But one I feel makes the most sense. You’re young but experienced. And aside from being your kin, you rescued him from the Twolegplace I know you can be trusted to take care of him.”

“I’m honored, Oakstar. Thank you.” Mapleshade dipped her head to him. 

“Do you want to take Nettlepaw with us on a tour of the territory?” Birchface wondered, walking up to Mapleshade. Flowerpaw hung back, giving Mapleshade a hopeful look.

“Do you want to?” Mapleshade asked Nettlepaw.

“We’re not going to run into any badgers, are we?” Nettlepaw frowned.

“Badgers don’t come out at this time of day,” Birchface assured him. Both Nettlepaw and Flowerpaw relaxed.

“In that case, can we go with them?” Nettlepaw asked.

Mapleshade nodded. “Let’s get going. I want to reach the Thunderpath before sunhigh.”

“Nettlepaw, you’re hesitating again. You have to be quicker than that,” Mapleshade sighed. 

Nettlepaw flicked his ear indicating he’d heard before launching himself at Flowerpaw for the sixth time. She stepped aside, turning to lash out at Nettlepaw’s flank. He reared back exposing his soft belly.

At that exact moment, Flowerpaw’s leg connected with Nettlepaw’s stomach. He dropped onto all fours, sighing. “I just can’t seem to get it right. I know what I’m supposed to do, but my mind goes blank.”

Mapleshade glanced at Birchface, frowning. “Let’s move on, then. We can always come back to that move another day.”

Flowerpaw’s tail drooped. “Do we have to? I feel like I’m starting to get the hang of it.”

Nettlepaw glared at her.

“I think Mapleshade’s right,” Birchface agreed. “We’ve been practicing our fighting moves all day. I think it’s time you work on your tracking again. You didn’t do as well as I’d hoped the other day.”

Flowerpaw’s ears flattened to her head. “That’s even worse than practicing that hunting crouch you showed me the other day,” she muttered.

“All it takes is a little concentration and patience. Once you get the hang of it, it'll become second nature to you, I promise,” Birchface said. 

“This is more work than I thought it was going to be,” Nettlepaw remarked. 

Mapleshade gave his shoulder a friendly nudge. “Don’t sound so unhappy, you two. You’ve only been apprentices for a moon. You’re going to make mistakes at first. That’s all a part of learning.”

“And the more you train, the better you’ll become,” Birchface added. He stretched his front legs out, arching his back with a yawn. Looking at Mapleshade he asked, “Do you want Nettlepaw to join us, or were you thinking about something else?”

“I had something planned already, sorry.” As soon as she said it, her stomach dropped, noticing the dejected look in Birchface’s eyes. It lasted only a moment, replaced by a hollow purr in his throat.

“Of course. Maybe later. Come on, Flowerpaw." Birchface tilted his head towards the forest, leading Flowerpaw out of the training hollow.

“Should I keep practicing by myself, or…?” Nettlepaw wondered.

Mapleshade nodded. “Yes, that would be great.”

Birchface’s hurt expression crossed Mapleshade’s mind once more. They’d been mentoring together for the last moon, yet Mapleshade felt just as distant from him as she’d been the previous few seasons. It had been so long, that she couldn’t remember their last genuine, happy interaction. They worked well together as mentors, but it wasn't the same.

Suddenly, she was knocked to the ground. Mapleshade twisted around, crouching there. She twitched, grimacing at the sand in her fur. Nettlepaw hovered over her, chest puffed out. “Did I surprise you?” he asked.

“You did more than surprise me.” Mapleshade stood straight, shaking her pelt. 

Nettlepaw’s previous excitement faded away. “I’m sorry for jumping on you like that. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Why are you apologizing? I deserved that.” Mapleshade gave her flank a few licks, trying to smooth down her ruffled fur. Her gaze softened. “And I’m fine, so don’t worry about me. I’ve taken a harder beating than that.”

Nettlepaw’s ears flattened to his head. 

“It’s okay, Nettlepaw.” Mapleshade touched her nose to his shoulder. 

“Do you think we could try hunting now? I’m starving,” Nettlepaw meowed, changing the subject. 

Looking up, Mapleshade could barely make out the sun through the thick branches overhead. It was a little past sunhigh, she assumed. A quick hunt wouldn’t hurt, that is, if they’d be able to find something in the day’s heat. Bounding into the forest, Mapleshade led Nettlepaw to one of the creeks that ran closer to camp. 

Water trickled across the sandy ground. Mapleshade tucked herself into a pile of fresh, green grass, eyes flickering over their surroundings. It wasn’t long before she caught sight of the small brown body of a vole scurrying near a fallen branch. Nettlepaw saw it too, darting forward. He killed it with a single bite before lowering his head, giving thanks to StarClan.

While Nettlepaw ate, Mapleshade decided to test her luck. This was a fairly shaded area, so she didn’t think she’d have much trouble finding something else lurking in this part of the forest.

Following the creek, she kept her ears perked for bird calls. The only chirps she could make out sounded far away. They died out further the closer she got to the river, plunging the forest into silence. 

It was then cries as loud as thunder echoed in the direction of Sunningrocks. Mapleshade broke into a run until she reached the treeline. Peering through the branches, she spotted the skirmish unfolding between Birchface, Flowerpaw, and a RiverClan patrol. Birchface and Flowerpaw were outnumbered but fought with the strength of LionClan.

Pawsteps drummed on the ground behind her. Nettlepaw’s exasperated voice sounded, “What’s going on?”

“Run back to camp as quickly as you can and bring reinforcements!” Mapleshade ordered. To her relief, Nettlepaw ran off without question. 

Mapleshade barreled into the fight, shoving Poppyspots away from Flowerpaw. Birchface shot her a grateful look, swiping at Reedshine. Throughout the fight, both warriors kept a close watch on Flowerpaw, shielding her the best they could from the RiverClan warriors. Despite her lack of experience, Flowerpaw fought with grace and speed. 

Moments later, Beetail launched himself into the battle. Doefeather, Stormwhisker, Hazelheart, and Nettlepaw followed him. Nettlepaw must have found the patrol nearby. Mapleshade shadowed Nettlepaw, working alongside him to chase a RiverClan apprentice off. 

“Thanks,” Nettlepaw panted.

Before Mapleshade could answer him, Beetail squealed. Mapleshade’s head snapped up, her heart sinking into her stomach at the sight before her. Beetail lay on his side, a large rock crushing his back legs.

Reedshine stood next to him. Her eyes were wide. To Mapleshade’s surprise, she tried pushing the rock off his body. “It’s too heavy,” she whined, slamming her shoulder against it.

Doefeather and Birchface joined her. Together, the three warriors moved rock from Beetail’s leg, but the damage was already done. Mapleshade’s stomach lurched at the sight, Beetail’s leg twisted and bloody. 

“Thank you,” Birchface told Reedshine through clenched teeth. Shoving past her, he tried nudging Beetail to his legs. The older tom buckled, collapsing to the ground.

“My legs are broken,” he hissed, his head flopping back.

“We’ll carry you,” Doefeather told him.

“Nettlepaw, run back to camp and tell Ravenwing what happened,” Mapleshade ordered.

Nettlepaw pulled away from a RiverClan she-cat he was grappling with, oblivious. “What’s—” His eyes shot open, taking a cautious step towards Beetail. “Is he going to die?”

“I don’t know. Just hurry and get Ravenwing. The rest of us are going to try and carry him back to camp.” Anxiety flooded Mapleshade’s body as Birchface and Doefeather carefully scooped Beetail up onto their backs. 

“StarClan, no…” Stormwhisker murmured as he watched them go. 

The fight was over at that point. Mapleshade nudged Flowerpaw back into the forest, while Stormwhisker and Hazelheart followed. She tried her best to ignore the arrogant yowls of pride that came from the RiverClan warriors. She wanted to turn around and confront them, to tell them this was their fault, but she held her tongue. It wasn’t like they cared.

If only Appledusk had been there. He would’ve cared. He would’ve—

What am I thinking? Mapleshade squeezed her eyes shut. It wouldn’t have been any different if Appledusk had been there or not. What could he have done? He trespassed enough on his own. And yet, Mapleshade couldn’t help but imagine what it would’ve been for him to be there. He wouldn’t have joined in on his Clanmate’s obnoxious, prideful, cries, that much Mapleshade was certain. 

Giving one last look over her shoulder, Mapleshade’s eyes widened as she caught the brief look of distress on Reedshine’s face. 

Mapleshade crouched at the edge of the warrior’s den, Birchface next to her. “Ravenwing says Beetail is going to be crippled for the rest of his life,” he told her. 

She’d already heard as much. The entire Clan hadn’t stopped talking about the accident since it occurred. Now night had fallen, swallowing the forest whole. Not even the moon shone in the sky, nor Silverpelt its light.

“You know what’s going to happen now.” Birchface shuffled his paws on the ground. “He’s going to do it.”

“How do you feel about it?”

Birchface kept his head low. “I thought I’d made peace with it back when Dovesong was killed, but now that it’s here I’m not so sure anymore.”

Straightening up, Mapleshade pressed her forehead against his shoulder. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but the words felt trapped in her throat. For a moment, her Birchface was back. 

“It’s going to be okay,” she finally managed. Her throat tightened again, forcing her to forget everything she wanted to tell him. It was too late anyway, as Oakstar brushed through the crowd of concerned warriors gathered in the clearing.

“As I’m sure you’ve heard, Beetail was crippled in today’s fight at Sunningrocks. Ravenwing is confident he’ll be able to walk again someday, but he’ll never be able to return to his duties. I had a long conversation with Beetail, and he agreed that it's in the Clan’s best interest I name a new deputy.” 

Slight murmurs echoed throughout the camp, though most cats were hardly surprised by Oakstar’s words.

“As we spoke, there was something else Beetail shared with me: a request. Birchface—” Oakstar padded towards his son, standing just a fox-length away, “Beetail spoke highly of you at today’s fight. Despite being outnumbered at first, you and Flowerpaw held your own for a long time. Not only that, but you came to Beetail’s aid immediately. Your actions today prove not only your resilience but your unwavering dedication to ThunderClan. For this reason, I’ve decided to name you as my new deputy.”

Birchface nodded. “Thank you, Oakstar.” His words were swallowed up by sounds of chanting that erupted from the rest of ThunderClan.

Mapleshade kept her ears pricked as she slithered through the reeds. Appledusk’s scent was up ahead. He was alone, or so she hoped. She’d sat on the opposite side of the border for a while contemplating whether or not she should talk to him, giving in to her whim the second he began heading in the opposite direction.

“Appledusk, wait,” Mapleshade hissed.

“Mapleshade?” Appledusk turned around, narrowing his eyes in the darkness. “What are you doing here?”

“I haven’t talked to you in a little while. I was just wondering how you were doing,” Mapleshade meowed. “I feel as though I barely see you anymore.”

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing earlier today. And now you’re here. StarClan really does answer prayers,” Appledusk teased. His jovial mood didn’t last long. Leaning towards her he asked, “How is Beetail doing?”

“He’s alive, but unfortunately he’ll never be a warrior again. He retired a few days ago,” Mapleshade explained. 

“That’s too bad. He was deputy for a long time, wasn’t he? Who replaced him?”

“Birchface.”

Appledusk nodded, contemplatively. “That wouldn’t have been my first choice, but I guess I can’t be too surprised. He was always a bit… controlling.”

“And who would your first choice be?” 

“You,” Appledusk answered honestly. 

“Me?” Mapleshade shrank back. “I don’t even want to be deputy.” She shook out her pelt. “Anyway, what do your Clanmates have to say about the whole thing? I’m sure they’re thrilled.” She couldn’t bite back the bitterness that attached to her words.

“They are. But do we have to talk about this right now?” Mapleshade’s eyes widened at his words. 

“Well, what else would we talk about? Your Clanmates are the ones who started the battle,” Mapleshade shot back. “If it weren’t for them, Beetail would’ve never ended up in this predicament.”

“You’re always so serious,” Appledusk sighed. “Look, why don’t we… do something fun, like we did that one night. Wouldn’t that be nice?” 

Mapleshade glared at him. “Excuse me for being serious about the topic you brought up.”

Appledusk’s expression softened. He touched his nose to her ear, closing his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just a little stressed out right now. But come on—” He nudged her in the direction of Fourtrees.

“What are you doing?”

“It’ll be safer there. Trust me,” Appledusk said.

Mapleshade reluctantly followed him. Her previous irritation faded away as she broke into a comfortable trot next to him. 

“Wait,” Appledusk told her. He bounded forward, grabbing a particularly scraggly set of branches in his jaws, pulling them to the side just enough for Mapleshade to squeeze through. She sat back, waiting as he scrabbled beneath the bush, wincing as the twigs scrapped his back.

“Wait, I’ll hold it for you.” Mapleshade hurried to his side, lifting the branches just enough for him to maneuver underneath. 

“Thanks. I should’ve gone around, but I thought I could get through,” Appledusk said.

“I would’ve held it for you like you did me.”

“I know you would’ve. But it’s not that big of a deal. Just a couple of scratches. Nothing I won’t survive.” A faint purr rose in his throat as Appledusk continued their journey to Fourtrees. 

“I’m a little surprised you followed me so easily,” Appledusk told her after a while. 

Mapleshade didn’t know how to respond to that. She hadn’t even thought about it, just like she hadn’t thought about crossing the border earlier. “Me too,” she finally said. 

The faintest hint of moonlight bounced off the Great Rock. Mapleshade climbed to the top, her breath catching in her throat as she looked down at the almost-empty clearing. Appledusk sat in the middle, tail curled around his paws, looking up at her in awe. 

“This Gathering looks a little empty, Maplestar,” he called out. “Are you sure we’ve got the right day?”

Mapleshade's whiskers twitched in amusement. She pushed it down, trying to be serious. “I’m afraid the other Clans couldn’t make it tonight. You see, a giant rabbit attacked WindClan. Wiped out half of their warriors. A very sad turn of events.”

“A giant rabbit?” Appledusk echoed. “I thought I saw one of those across the border the other day, but I couldn’t tell if it was a rabbit or a really unfortunate ShadowClan warrior trespassing on their land.”

“A mistake anyone could make, honestly.” Mapleshade shook her head. 

“So what are we going to do, Maplestar? We can’t have a Gathering with just the two of us.”

Mapleshade pretended to think. “We’ll have a tree climbing contest. You and me. Whoever wins proves once and for all which is better: ThunderClan, or RiverClan.”

“What? That’s not fair. I hate climbing trees.” Appledusk’s shoulders sagged.

Mapleshade lept down from the Great Rock. “And I don’t like getting my paws wet, but I did it for you that one time. All you have to do—” she scrambled up the side of one of the Great Oaks, perching on a low branch, “—is climb this high.”

“I can’t do that.”

“This is barely a fox-length, Appledusk.”

“I know, but…” He hesitated at the base of the tree, looking up at her. Bunching his muscles, he clawed his way up the trunk. To Mapleshade’s surprise, he climbed several branches above her head. 

“Oh, now you’re showing off. I thought you hated climbing trees a few seconds ago.”

“I do hate climbing trees, but I want to make you happy,” Appledusk meowed. He waited as Mapleshade climbed up to meet him, settling on the branch next to him. But before she could get comfortable, Appledusk moved higher. 

Mapleshade scrambled after him. It wasn’t long before they reached the top of the tree. Appledusk looked down, a shallow breath escaping his mouth. “That’s a lot farther down than I realized… StarClan.”

Mapleshade nudged his jaw with her nose, making him look up. “Don’t think about it. Look at the moon instead.”

Appledusk directed his attention towards the sliver of moon in the sky. It looked like a claw, with several warriors of Silverpelt gathered around it. Mapleshade stared at it in awe, tilting her head slightly. 

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Appledusk looked back at her, his expression softening. Without tearing his gaze away from her he murmured, “It sure is.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-five

Appledusk’s scent caught Mapleshade’s attention as she pushed through the undergrowth. Her eyes lit up, spotting him in his familiar spot at the base of the Great Rock. This had been their routine for the last several nights.

“I caught you something,” Appledusk announced as she neared. He pushed a plump mouse towards her. “Don’t worry, I caught it on RiverClan territory.”

Mapleshade settled next to him. “How very thoughtful of you.” She took a bite from the mouse, purring at the savory meat. “This is one of the best mice I’ve had in a while. Want a bite?”

When they finished eating, Appledusk padded to the edge of Fourtrees.

“Where are you going?” Mapleshade sat up, licking her lips.

“I want to show you something. Follow me.” He flicked his tail, waiting for her. Mapleshade rose to her paws, hesitantly following him deeper into the forest.

It wasn’t long before they crossed the scent-markers on RiverClan’s border. The fur on the back of her neck bristled, but she didn’t say anything at first. It wasn’t until they were a little ways into RiverClan’s land that she stopped walking. “Where are we going?”

“It’s not much further. You’ll be fine. Just trust me,” Appledusk whispered. He continued forward, crossing the Twoleg bridge. He then turned, heading up the gorge.

As Mapleshade trailed him, she could only imagine what he was up to now. When she agreed to meet up with him, it was under the pretense they’d be meeting up on neutral ground. Now here she was, deep into the heart of RiverClan’s territory in the middle of the night. And yet, the little voice in the back of her head that tried to convince her that what she was doing was wrong, that she should feel guilty and ashamed of herself… was silent.

Appledusk paused. “Here we are,” he announced, his voice breaking Mapleshade’s train of thought.

In front of them, a beautiful willow hung over the edge of the gorge, its branches swaying in the light breeze, the leaves painted silver by the moon’s light.

“Wow,” Mapleshade breathed.

“Do you like it?”

Mapleshade nodded. “It’s beautiful. But I thought you didn’t like trees?”

Appledusk parted the branches, allowing Mapleshade to go inside. “I don’t like climbing them. Big difference.” He lay down in a nest made of reeds and moss at the base of the tree, stretching out.

“You must come here often,” Mapleshade remarked, settling down next to him.

“I do. It’s peaceful.” He rolled onto his back, staring at the branches surrounding them. “This is a good place to think.”

Mapleshade copied him. “What do you think about?”

“You.” The words left his mouth immediately, their tone as soft as the wind sweeping through the willow’s leaves. He turned his head to the side, staring directly into her eyes. “You’re always on my mind.”

Mapleshade’s heart thrummed in her chest. A burning sensation coursed through her, consuming her to the point she had to look away. This was all too vulnerable, too personal. She’d never allowed another cat to speak to her like this before, and here it was, Appledusk of all cats. “You’re on my mind, too,” she finally confessed.

“But not always?” Appledusk rolled onto his stomach.

“No. I have a life outside of you, you know.”

“I know you do. That’s why I could never bring myself to be selfish and tell you how I really feel,” Appledusk said.

“And how do you feel? I want to know.”

“I want you to come live with me in RiverClan. But if I asked you to do that, you’d have to give up everything, and I can’t ask you to do that for me. But every day I wish you could.” He moved close to her, pressing against her side. His nose touched her shoulder, drawing in her scent.

Mapleshade rolled onto her side. She butted her forehead against his muzzle, a purr rising in her throat. “Come with me back to ThunderClan,” she begged, the words leaving her mouth before she could think.

“I can’t.” Appledusk shook his head.

“Why not? From what you’ve told me, you don’t fit in. You’re not happy. I know it would take some time getting used to the change, and there would be challenges along the way, but ThunderClan—”

“They’d never accept me, Mapleshade. We both know that.” Appledusk rose to his paws. He moved several paces back, not meeting her gaze. “That’s why we can only be together like this.”

“This isn’t good enough for me.” Mapleshade forced out a breath, ears flattened to her skull. Appledusk was right. She knew that. She’d known that from the start. And it wasn’t fair. It had never been fair, not just to them, but to every cat in their situation who’d found themselves drawn to someone they shouldn’t have been.

“I hate this,” she sighed. “I don’t… I don’t even know what to do at this point. Where do we go from here? We can’t keep meeting up in secret for the rest of our lives. That’s no way to live. Always looking over our shoulders, paranoid about being found out.”

Appledusk didn’t say anything.

“Maybe we should put an end to this once and for all.” Maybe I was stupid for even doing this in the first place, she thought.

“No,” Appledusk finally meowed. “I don’t want to end this. But I don’t know what we should do.”

“I have to go back to camp. It’s getting late.” Mapleshade brushed past him. Poking her head through the willow’s branches, she realized she needed his help guiding her back to Fourtrees.

“Are you mad at me?” Appledusk asked.

“No.”

“Then why are you rushing off like you always do when you’re upset with me?”

“I just—” Mapleshade tensed, the faint sound of voices hitting her ears. A RiverClan patrol. She shrank back into the protection of the willow, back pressed against the trunk as she waited with bated breath. Appledusk crouched in front of her, trying to mask her scent with his own. To their relief, the patrol passed by without incident.

“Why are they patrolling so late at night?” Appledusk murmured to himself.

“You mean you don’t know?”

Appledusk shook his head. “No. Spiketail never calls a patrol this late at night.”

“Do you think something’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe I should head back to camp just in case. I’ll take you back as far as the Twoleg bridge. Do you think you’ll manage to find the rest of the way back?”

Together, Mapleshade and Appledusk rushed for the bridge. Anxiety coursed through her body, wondering what could possibly have happened back at RiverClan’s camp. She longed to go back with him just in case.

“When can I see you again?” she breathed, standing in the middle of the bridge.

“Tomorrow night, just like we’ve been doing,” Appledusk said.

“Alright. Tomorrow night it is.”

Appledusk brushed against her, purring slightly. “Don’t be so tense, okay? I’m sure everything is fine at camp. So don’t worry about me.”

Mapleshade’s tail flicked. “How’d you know I was worried about you?”

“Because you always get that wide-eyed look on your face whenever you’re thinking too much,” Appledusk teased. He touched his nose to her forehead. “Really, it’s fine. Now get going. And I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Mapleshade was frozen in place a long while after Appledusk disappeared from her sight. When she finally worked up the energy to get going, there was only one thought in her mind.

She was in love with him.

“I was thinking we’d head towards Snakerocks first. Then we’ll cut through one of the dried creek beds, try our luck hunting again, and head back to camp. What do you think?” Mapleshade asked, swallowing the last of her sparrow.

“Are we going to renew the scent markers along ShadowClan’s border?” Nettlepaw wondered.

“It wouldn’t hurt, but I wasn’t planning on it. But we’ll see what things are like once we get over there.” Mapleshade licked her lips, sitting up. She spent the next several minutes grooming her pelt. “Ready to go?”

Nettlepaw looked past her. Turning her head, Mapleshade’s shoulders slumped as Birchface neared them.

“Good morning,” he purred.

“Hey.” Mapleshade couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye, not after her many late-night meetings with Appledusk. Swallowing back her pride, she lifted her head a little more, trying to act casual. She’d concealed the meetings thus far. She couldn’t allow her anxiety to win now.

“Sorry, but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation,” Birchface meowed, sitting down. “I already asked Mistfeather to take a patrol to Snakerocks. Mind changing your plans and going hunting with me and Flowerpaw instead?”

Nettlepaw’s tail shot into the air. “Can we, Mapleshade?”

“I guess. Are you ready to go now?”

Birchface nodded. “Flowerpaw’s waiting at the top of the ravine already. Come on.”

The forest was cool as the patrol made their way through ThunderClan’s territory. A light breeze tousled the undergrowth. Opening her mouth, Mapleshade picked up the scent of a squirrel. It was blowing from the direction of the Treecut Place.

Flowerpaw smelled it too. She looked to Birchface for permission before slipping away. A few heartbeats later, the young she-cat returned, the squirrel clamped firmly in her jaws. She trotted back to Birchface, her head held high. “It didn’t even see me coming,” she announced.

“Great catch!” Nettlepaw praised.

“Thanks.” Flowerpaw puffed her chest out.

“Do you smell anything, Nettlepaw?” Mapleshade questioned him.

Doubt flashed through Nettlepaw’s mind, his tail drooping slightly. Closing his eyes, he opened his mouth and waited. Mapleshade waited, wondering whether or not he’d pick up the obvious scent of shrew nearby. It was coming from underneath a fallen branch. To her relief, Nettlepaw dropped into a crouch. He crept across the forest floor. Peering under the branch, Nettlepaw reached his leg out.

To everyone’s surprise, Nettlepaw hooked two shrews with his claws. They scrabbled against the ground, squealing. For a second, Mapleshade thought one might get away, but Nettlepaw was quicker.

“Great job, Nettlepaw. I didn’t even realize there was more than one,” Mapleshade told him.

“The kits are going to be so happy when we get back to camp. Hollykit and Rookkit love shrew!” Flowerpaw purred.

Birchface looked at the sky. “Let’s go back to camp. We’ve got plenty of prey.”

Mapleshade stopped walking. “But I haven’t even had the chance to catch anything yet.”

Birchface stared at her. Turning to Flowerpaw he said, “You and Nettlepaw can go back to camp by yourselves, then. Mapleshade and I are going to stay out a little longer. We won’t take too long.”

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t mind hunting some more. I feel like I could do better than this.” Nettlepaw prodded the shrews.

“No, that’s good enough. The fresh-kill pile is overflowing this time of year. We don’t need any of it going to waste.”

“Alright then. See you later, Mapleshade.” Nettlepaw dipped his head. Picking up his prey, he chased after Flowerpaw.

As soon as their voices died down, Mapleshade tasted the air again. “I don’t smell anything else around here. We’ll have to try somewhere else.” When she didn’t hear Birchface’s pawsteps behind her, she turned around.

He sat with his tail curled around his paws. His head was tilted slightly, a genial gleam in his eyes. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”

Mapleshade’s claws dug into the ground. “Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong.” Birchface came to stand in front of her. He leaned his muzzle out, then shrank back. A look of uncertainty flashed in his eyes. “Look,” he began, “I don’t know how to even tell you this, but it’s something I’ve wanted to talk to you about for a while now.”

Mapleshade’s stomach twisted.

“I have feelings for you, Mapleshade. I have for a really long time. I know we’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs. Most of them have been my fault; I’ll be the first cat to admit that. But I care about you deeply. I love having you by my side. And one day, if you want, I’d love to have kits of our own together,” Birchface meowed.

The ground under Mapleshade’s paws seemed to shake. Head spinning, she dug her claws deeper into the earth, trying to keep herself upright. This couldn’t be happening. This… This wasn’t possible. This wasn’t real.

Staring at Birchface, she waited for her brain to get it together, to realize Birchface hadn’t just told her what she thought he’d said. But that realization never came. He’d confessed his feelings to her.

Now he sat there expectantly, waiting for her to tell him she returned his feelings. But the truth was, she didn’t.

“This is unexpected,” she breathed. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You can be honest with me. That’s all I want,” Birchface said.

Honesty.

Mapleshade wasn’t sure she knew what that even meant anymore. She was lying to her entire Clan every single night when she slipped away to see Appledusk. She had lied to herself for several seasons, convincing herself that she didn’t feel anything for him. She lied to them about Nettlepaw’s rescue. Now here she was, face to face with Birchface, forced to tell him the truth here and now.

“I don’t feel the same. I’m sorry.”

Birchface hung his head. “I thought that might be the case. But I wanted to tell you how I felt anyway.”

“I’m really sorry. I wish—”

“You don’t have to apologize to me, Mapleshade. You feel how you feel. That’s okay. I don’t want you to lie to me to make me feel better.”

Mapleshade’s heart twisted. “I love you as a friend, Birchface. I just…”

“That’s okay. At least I have your friendship, even if I can’t have your heart. But if you ever change your mind, let me know.” He touched his nose to her forehead, breathing in her scent. When he stepped away, his eyes glistened. “I have to go.”

She nodded, lowering her head. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him anymore. Birchface’s scent faded.

Mapleshade sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. Stumbling to her paws, she turned in the opposite direction of camp and instead headed to Fourtrees. It was early yet, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t face Birchface yet, or any of her Clanmates for that matter.

She wondered if Birchface would tell Goldenmist what happened. Probably. He told her everything. The idea of Goldenmist confronting her about this made Mapleshade want to jump out of her skin. At the same time, she knew she was letting her imagination get the best of her. They were grown warriors. She had every right to reject Birchface, and if that upset anyone, they’d have to deal with it.

Mapleshade lounged around Fourtrees for the rest of the day, feasting on a chaffinch she caught. She couldn’t bring herself to feel bad about not feeding the rest of the Clan first. She’d hunt on the way back.

To her surprise, Appledusk arrived earlier than normal. As he looked her over, the excitement faded from his face. “What’s wrong?”

Mapleshade absentmindedly batted at an acorn. “I’ve got a lot on my mind, so I don’t think I’m going to be here for very long. But I wanted to come see you at least for a little while.”

“Did something happen to one of your Clanmates?”

Mapleshade flicked an ear. “No.”

Appledusk sat next to her. Mapleshade leaned her head back, resting it on his hip. “Birchface told me he loves me,” she murmured.

“And what did you say?”

“I told him I didn’t feel the same way.” Mapleshade sat up. Leaning against Appledusk again she said, “He’s one of my closest friends, but I’ve never seen him as anything more than that. Because the truth is, I’m in love with you.”

Appledusk licked the top of her head, a faint purr rising in his throat. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that. I love you too.”

“Do you really?” Mapleshade pulled back, looking into his eyes. Appledusk’s expression was gentle, welcoming. He touched his nose to hers, the purr in his throat growing louder.

“I do. That’s why it hurts to know I can only be with you like this.”

“We shouldn’t have to be apart. There’s nothing wrong with our relationship.” Mapleshade leaped to her paws. “I’ll join RiverClan for you, Appledusk. It’ll be difficult, but I know—”

“No. You can’t do that. What about Nettlepaw?” Appledusk shook his head.

Mapleshade grew quiet. Shame pricked through her pelt as she realized how ridiculous she was being.

“We already talked about this once. You need to stay in ThunderClan. But that doesn’t mean we can’t figure something out in the meantime. We’ll continue to meet up exactly like we’ve been doing. Everything will work itself out. There’s no need for you to make an enemy out of the entirety of ThunderClan just for my sake,” Appledusk said.

“You’re right.”

Appledusk nuzzled her. “And who knows, maybe one day something will happen to change the warrior code. Wouldn’t that be something?”

Mapleshade didn’t respond. She wanted to curl up in her nest and sleep for the next ten seasons. Why did everything have to be so difficult all the time? Why was she never allowed to be happy?

“Why does everything have to be so messed up all the time?” she said aloud, not wanting a genuine answer.

“Everything’s going to be okay. I love you, Mapleshade. I’ll always be here for you.”

Moving away from the main clearing, they settled beneath a larch tree. Curling up by his side, Mapleshade closed her eyes. Appledusk ran his tongue over her cheeks, then down her shoulder.

Unwilling to be torn between two worlds any longer, Mapleshade pushed her duty to ThunderClan out of her mind and gave her unwavering attention to Appledusk for the rest of the night.

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-six 

Thick, black clouds loomed on the horizon. Mapleshade could taste rain. As if on cue, a fat raindrop landed on her nose. She shrank back, wrinkling it. “I think we need to cut this patrol short,” she called to the rest of her Clanmates.

After gathering the prey they’d stashed away, Mapleshade led Nettlepaw, Bloomheart, and Thrushtalon back to camp. To her relief, they made it back to camp mostly dry.

“Get something to eat and take it easy,” she told Nettlepaw as they strolled into camp. But before she or her apprentice could depart, Mapleshade stopped in her tracks. 

A large crowd had gathered in the center of camp. They looked up at Oakstar and Birchface, perched atop the Highrock. It was the younger of the two who addressed the Clan. Birchface’s voice was stern, angry even, as he announced a plan that made Mapleshade’s heart lurch.

“As you all know, RiverClan stole Sunningrocks from us a moon ago. That same battle left Beetail permanently crippled.” 

Hisses of disgust echoed throughout the crowd. 

“Sunningrocks has been a crucial part of ThunderClan’s territory for many seasons. RiverClan has no right to take it away from us now. I’ve been biding our time, thinking of ways to take our territory back, but we cannot wait any longer. I’ve spoken to Oakstar, and he agrees. While out on patrol today, I noticed a large crowd of RiverClan warriors basking on the rocks, mocking us.”

More cries of outrage ripped through the ThunderClan warriors. 

“We cannot stand for this any longer. We must attack them now and take back what is rightfully ours!” Birchface finished his speech with a mighty yowl. Several other cats lifted their heads, copying him.

But Mapleshade’s stomach was in knots. Would Appledusk be at Sunningrocks? She hoped not. If he were, what would she do?

Birchface weaved his way through the crowd, picking out the cats he wanted to join him in the battle. He gestured to Nettlepaw and Flowerpaw, ordering them to wait by the gorse tunnel. To Mapleshade’s surprise, he walked past her without a single glance. 

“Is Mapleshade not going?” Nettlepaw asked.

Birchface stopped. He barely turned his head, his voice cool, emotionless, almost. “No. Mapleshade’s better off at camp where she belongs.”

There was something about the way he spoke, the way he looked at her, that made Mapleshade uneasy. He’d been like this for several days now that she thought about it. First, it was when they helped the queens clean out the nursery. She’d made a remark about how big the kittens were growing. Instead of dignifying her with a response, Birchface had instead muttered something under his breath. The second time had been after she’d mixed up two fighting techniques while training their apprentices. At first, Mapleshade brushed it off, thinking he was just hurt by her rejection. But this was something different, something that made the fur along her spine bristle.

Does he know about Appledusk? 

It wasn’t possible. She was careful. She was always careful. She did everything she could to make sure no cat questioned her behavior. She hid Appledusk’s scent from her pelt. She overhunted to compensate for her disappearances. She made sure she was always there for Nettlepaw’s training. There was no way in StarClan that Birchface had any idea about her relationship with Appledusk.

“Apprentices never go into battle without their mentors,” Thrushtalon meowed. He moved next to Nettlepaw and Flowerpaw, giving them concerned looks. “Maybe they should stay at camp this time.”

“I didn’t know you were the deputy,” Birchface grumbled.

Thrushtalon’s eyes widened. “I’m not trying to tell you what to do.”

“It sure sounds like you are.” Birchface straightened his posture, glaring down at Thrushtalon. The older tom stood his ground, hackles rising. After a brief stare down, Birchface relapsed. Jerking his head back to Mapleshade, he huffed, “Come on.”

Falling into step beside Nettlepaw, Mapleshade whispered words of comfort to him. This wasn’t something he hadn’t experienced before; both he and Flowerpaw had held their own at the last skirmish. But Mapleshade couldn’t help feeling worried for the two apprentices. 

Flowerpaw slowed her pace, walking on Mapleshade’s other side. 

“Wait.” Dawnfeather’s voice sounded behind them. She climbed up the ravine after them. She nuzzled both of her kits. Pulling back, she gave them a stern look. “Be careful, both of you. Stick close to your mentors, and don’t feel ashamed to retreat if you absolutely have to.”

“We will,” Flowerpaw promised. 

“I’ll be right there with both of them.” Mapleshade bowed her head to her sister. Trying to sound more optimistic than she felt, she said, “I don’t think this will be anything serious. I’m sure it’ll be over before any of us realizes.”

“Hurry up!” Birchface shouted. He stood at the top of the ravine, his figure barely visible against the dark storm clouds. A flash of lightning lit up the sky, illuminating Birchface’s body for a split second. 

It was then the clouds opened, drenching the warriors to the bone. Mapleshade shivered. “I think we need to call this off,” she yelled.

“Are you afraid of a little rain?” Birchface taunted.

Mapleshade halted. She narrowed her eyes. Suddenly, Flowerpaw stumbled next to her. Mapleshade reached for her, but Birchface was quicker. He grabbed Flowerpaw by the scruff, pulling her roughly. She yelped, twisting her back legs as she scrambled for a foothold.

“Don’t be so rough with her,” Mapleshade snapped.

“Was I supposed to let her slip and fall?” Birchface shot back. “Come on. I don’t have all day. The rest of the Clan is probably halfway to Sunningrocks by now.”

Bounding forward, Mapleshade overtook Birchface at the top of the ravine. She stood nose to nose with him, blinking back drops of rain as they rolled into her eyes. “What’s wrong with you today?”

Birchface knocked her shoulder. “You know exactly what’s wrong.”

Mapleshade lifted a paw, claws unsheathed. Taking a deep breath, she managed to place it back on the ground. “You’re not entitled to my love.”

“You think that’s what this is about?” Birchface scoffed. “Your love? I don’t want your love. You’re not the cat I thought you were, Mapleshade. You’re a traitor."

Those words pierced her heart like an icicle. Frozen in place, all Mapleshade could do was stare at him, slack-jawed. He knew about Appledusk. Judging by his treatment of her over the last several days, he’d known for a while. This wasn't possible. She was careful. 

“I haven’t done anything wrong, and you know it,” she growled. “Don’t treat me like an enemy because you don’t understand.”

“What am I supposed to think when you’ve been slipping away every night to see him? You know what the warrior code says. You know what they’ve done to us. RiverClan killed my mother. They indirectly killed Rowanfur as well by bringing those fleabags to the forest. But I guess you don’t care about that, seeing as your loyalty belongs to him.”

Mapleshade clawed him across the cheek. “How dare you? I loved my father. I’m loyal to ThunderClan. I’ve dedicated my entire life to hunting and fighting to keep our Clan safe, so don’t question my loyalty just because of who I talk to.”

Birchface’s head snapped to the side. He gritted his teeth, taking a moment to gather his bearings. “You’re not just talking to him. You’re in love with him. You’re choosing your selfish desires over the good of the Clan. And for what? Some cat who doesn’t really love you. You don't have to love me, but how could you love him?"

“He does love me!”

“He’s using you, Mapleshade.”

“How would you know? You don’t even know him.”

“He’s a RiverClan warrior. I don’t have to know him personally to know they’re all the same. He’s no good for you! And to think you’d be stupid enough to trust him makes me wonder how good you really are.” Taking a deep breath, Birchface tried to keep his voice even as he continued, “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, Mapleshade. You’re going to get yourself hurt.”

“I’m not mouse-brained, despite what you might think. I know I can trust Appledusk. If you were truly my friend—no, if you truly loved me like you said you do, you’d be happy for me,” Mapleshade snarled.

“It’s because I love you that I’m telling you this. I don’t want to see you hurt, or worse. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen if you keep meeting with him like this. Why don’t you understand that?” Birchface countered. 

“The only one hurting me here is you!” 

Another clap of thunder echoed through the forest. Furious, Mapleshade stomped away from Birchface. She wanted to return to camp, but she had to keep an eye on Flowerpaw and Nettlepaw. 

When she caught up to the rest of the battle party, they were already streaking down onto Sunningrocks. 

Only a few RiverClan warriors were gathered at Sunningrocks. They huddled against the rocks for shelter from the storm. As soon as they noticed the ThunderClan patrol, they leaped into action.

Within seconds, the rocks were alive with screaming, fighting cats. Shadowing Nettlepaw, Mapleshade watched as he wrestled with a RiverClan apprentice. He was bigger than Nettlepaw, but the orange-and-white tom was stronger. Nettlepaw knocked him off balance, swatting at his ears.

Slipping into the river, the apprentice swam to the opposite shore.

“Are you okay?” Mapleshade asked.

“There you are,” Nettlepaw panted. “What took you so long?”

Mapleshade shook her head. She didn’t say anything, instead nodding towards Eeltail of RiverClan. Side by side, Mapleshade and Nettlepaw cornered the RiverClan she-cat.

Eeltail swiped at Mapleshade, but Mapleshade was quicker. She dodged the blow, and while Eeltail was distracted, Nettlepaw clamped down onto her tail. Hissing, Eeltail lurched forward. She yanked her tail out of his mouth, blood welling to the skin. It streaked down the rocks, mixing with the rainwater that had pooled underpaw.

It was then that some cat grabbed Mapleshade from behind. Mapleshade fell back, her spine hitting a rock. “Mouse-dung!” she gasped, pain ricocheting throughout her body. Raindrops hammered her pelt, beading up in the corners of her eyes. Blinking back the water, she saw Darkstar standing over her.

The apprentice Nettlepaw chased off must have gone for reinforcements. There were more RiverClan warriors now. They outnumbered the ThunderClan cats, badly at that.

Darkstar stomped on Mapleshade’s shoulder, holding her in place. Mapleshade twisted her haunches, kicking out at Darkstar’s back legs. Finally gaining her footing, Mapleshade jumped up. She reared her front legs into the air, grabbing hold of Darkstar’s shoulder. Digging her claws in deep, Mapleshade pulled her closer.

As the two she-cats grappled on the slick, wet rocks, a panicked scream from somewhere in the distance distracted Mapleshade. 

“Appledusk, look out! Those rocks are loose!” That was Reedshine’s voice.

Pulling away from Darkstar, Mapleshade looked up just in time to see Birchface and Appledusk locked in combat. They stood near the same rocks that had dislodged and fallen on Beetail. Just as Reedshine had said, they were loose. Pebbles crumbled away, tumbling down into the river below. The whole thing gave way before any cat could react.

Birchface and Appledusk sank beneath the surface in a matter of seconds. More rocks continued falling into the river after them. Mud and debris from the bottom of the river floated to the top but were quickly washed away by the churning currents.

Mapleshade raced to the water’s edge. Trekking up and down the riverbank, she scanned the water for any sign that they had resurfaced. 

Nothing.

It was then Flowerpaw streaked past her, launching herself into the turbulent water. A little ways down, Birchface’s head bobbed to the surface. He thrashed his paws, trying to make it back to the shore, but a large wave knocked him back under.

“Flowerpaw, get out of the water. It’s too dangerous!” Mapleshade shouted. 

Ignoring her cries, Flowerpaw continued swimming. Her little body bobbed in the water, tossed about by the waves. They lapped at her face. She snorted, trying to clear her nose.

As Mapleshade waded into the water, Flowerpaw was knocked beneath the surface. Mapleshade’s heart dropped into her stomach. She sloshed through the water, kicking her back legs out, trying to move her body faster. 

“Flowerpaw!” she screamed. 

Flowerpaw’s head resurfaced a few seconds later. Birchface had also resurfaced, Mapleshade realized. He was still a ways away from them both, though he spun around at the sound of Mapleshade’s frantic cries.

“Flowerpaw—” Another wave knocked him under, but he broke the surface again, “—don’t waste your strength. I’ll—” 

Flowerpaw’s pace was slowing now. Mapleshade could tell she’d run out of the little steam she had left. The adrenaline coursing through her body was now replaced with fear and exhaustion. It wouldn’t be long before Flowerpaw was in more danger than she already was.

Suddenly, a large branch snapped from one of the trees overhanging the river. It fell in between Birchface and Flowerpaw, creating a gigantic tidal wave. It knocked all three of the cats under the water.

Mapleshade tumbled through the water. Caught off guard, she swallowed a large amount of water. Her lungs burned. She kicked out, trying to make sense of where she was in the water, but it was useless. The current pulled her along without a care in the world. At one point, her back scraped against the bottom of the riverbank. The branches and other debris littering the ground jabbed at her skin, snagging her limbs. Turning her head, she blindly knocked her muzzle against a large piece of wood, cutting through her fur. 

Just as she was about to give up, a pair of teeth sank into her scruff. Mapleshade allowed her body to go limp. There was not much else she could do at this point anyway. She couldn’t feel her limbs. 

But as she broke the surface, Mapleshade’s body lurched. Gagging, she vomited as much water from her body as she could. Before she could thank her rescuer, Reedshine swam away.

Mapleshade watched her go, stunned. Several more RiverClan warriors swam at her side. On the opposite side of the tree branch, Appledusk held Birchface’s scruff in his jaws. Flowerpaw was nowhere to be found.

Birchface’s head was slumped to the side, his eyes closed.

“Birchface!” Mapleshade tried to call out to him, but her voice was hoarse. Her throat burned. Despite her fatigue, Mapleshade gathered the little strength she had left and paddled through the water. Her movements were slow, too slow for her liking. Birchface and Flowerpaw needed help now. Yet the more energy she tried to put into swimming, the more cumbersome it became. She kept her eyes locked on Appledusk and Birchface the entire time.

Appledusk was struggling to swim, weighed down by Birchface’s limp body. Every so often, Birchface’s head would slump beneath the water. Appledusk tried to pull him back up, only for both toms to go under again.

“Wait. I’m coming…” Mapleshade kicked out again. She could barely move at this point. She had no more energy. 

Her eyes rolled back, and she lost all consciousness just as another wave crashed overhead. 

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-seven

Wet sand and river water.

That was the first thing Mapleshade picked up when she came to, her mind still wrapped in a blanket of confusion and fatigue she couldn’t shake. Her eyes wouldn’t open, and her legs refused to budge. If she were dead, she couldn’t muster up the courage to care.

A piercing shiver ran down her spine, spreading to each of her legs and tail. Another one followed, and then another. She wasn’t cold—no, the air was too humid for that. She could feel the warmth all around her. The shaking was her nerves.

Suddenly, her stomach lurched. Head jerking up, she vomited. Water mixed with stomach bile spilled out onto the riverbank. It was then Mapleshade’s eyes opened, her vision blurry. The world seemed to spin around her, making her want to vomit again, but nothing happened.

“Mapleshade, you’re awake!” Blinking, Appledusk’s blurry figure cleared. He stood in front of her, sopping wet, blood welling up from a wound on his shoulder. His voice shook, his voice cracking. “I thought you were dead.”

Memories from the last several minutes came rushing back to mind.

Birchface and Flowerpaw disappearing under the waves. 

“Where are they?” Mapleshade choked out.

Appledusk looked down at his paws. He then looked further down the shore to where a crowd of cats had gathered. Lying in the middle were two still bodies.

Mapleshade vomited again. She didn’t have to look twice to know who they belonged to.

“No,” she rasped, hunching over. “This—”

“I tried to save Birchface, but I couldn’t. I’m so sorry, Mapleshade. I really tried.” Appledusk remained where he sat several tail-lengths away, unable to comfort her in front of the crowd of gathered warriors. That only made Mapleshade’s heart twist in agony even more.

How was she supposed to explain this to Dawnfeather? She’d promised her sister she’d keep Flowerpaw safe, and now she was dead. She was too young to be dead. It was Mapleshade’s fault, too. If only she’d kept a closer watch on the young she-cat, if only she’d been faster, she could’ve prevented all of this. 

And Birchface… Mapleshade couldn’t stop the wail that escaped her as she remembered their last conversation, the horrible argument making her stomach twist. They were supposed to be friends. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. She understood why he’d been angry with her, but if he’d lived, perhaps she could’ve gotten him to change his mind somehow, to see that Appledusk wasn’t as bad as he thought. Now that would never happen. Birchface was dead.

Collapsing, Mapleshade pressed her forehead to the ground. Appledusk hovered nearby. He glanced back and forth between the other cats and Mapleshade, unsure what to do. He then walked away.

Mapleshade hadn’t even realized he’d left until she'd lifted her head. It was then she spotted him a ways down the riverbank, talking to Reedshine.

“Appledusk,” she croaked, “Come back. Don’t leave me…”

A small figure pressed against her flank. Turning her head, Mapleshade saw Nettlepaw. His body shook as he rested his forehead against her shoulder.

“Flowerpaw is dead,” he whispered.

“I know.”

Nettlepaw didn’t say anything else. He just sat there, shaking. A moment later, a loud whimper escaped him. Mapleshade’s eyes clamped shut. Swallowing her grief, she headbutted Nettlepaw’s leg, trying to comfort him as best she could.

“I’m sorry, Nettlepaw,” Mapleshade said. Nettlepaw whimpered again.

Resting her head on the ground, Mapleshade closed her eyes. This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be real life. How had things gone so wrong in such a short amount of time? And why had StarClan spared her? If any cat deserved to die, surely it was she and not Flowerpaw.

“Mapleshade, eat these,” Appledusk’s voice sounded. He dropped a bundle of herbs before her, sitting back down.

Mapleshade hung her head over the herbs. She lapped at them without bothering to figure out what they were. She wrinkled her nose at the bitter taste but could not bring herself to react otherwise.

“A patrol has been sent back to ThunderClan. They should be here soon,” Appledusk said.

Mapleshade nodded. She closed her eyes again. Appledusk said a few more things to her, but she didn’t pay attention.

“No!” Oakstar’s bloodcurdling scream caused Mapleshade to jump up. He stood over Birchface’s body, head hung. Goldenmist stood next to him, her head thrashing back and forth.

Several other ThunderClan cats stood on the riverbank now. Ravenwing, Dawnfeather—

Mapleshade jerked her head away. Her sister’s screams of agony were too much for her. She couldn’t take it. She knew Dawnfeather needed someone right now, but it couldn’t be her, not when she was responsible.

Nettlepaw stumbled to his paws. When he reached Dawnfeather, he leaned against her. Thrushtalon was on his other side.

Pawsteps drummed against the sandy beach. “Mapleshade,” Hazelheart said, her voice quavering. She nosed her daughter’s fur, turning her head to the side. Mapleshade let out a breath.

“I think she’ll be alright. She was speaking a moment ago. I gave her some herbs just in case,” Appledusk murmured.

“She’s in shock. And she’s cold,” Hazelheart mewed. She nosed Mapleshade again. Settling next to her, Hazelheart ran her tongue down Mapleshade’s soaked pelt. It was at that moment that Mapleshade realized it was no longer raining.

“I’m so sorry,” Mapleshade choked out, her voice garbled. “It should’ve been me. I should’ve drowned. I tried to stop her, but—”

“Don’t,” Hazelheart interrupted. “You can’t talk like that. I won’t allow it. You’re not to blame.”

When Mapleshade opened her eyes, she watched as Appledusk sat there with his head hung. His shoulders shook.

“Appledusk. Don’t be sad,” Mapleshade said. She pulled herself up again, inching towards him. She didn’t care if Hazelheart saw or not. She needed to touch him. But before she could, Ravenwing padded forward.

“We need to get her back to camp now. She’s in shock,” Ravenwing told Hazelheart.

“That’s what I suspected.”

Ravenwing stood on one side of Mapleshade, while Hazelheart stood on the other. Mapleshade took a step away from them, her legs shaking. “No,” she choked out. “I can’t go. Appledusk—” She moved towards him again, but this time Appledusk took a step back.

“Appledusk,” Mapleshade pleaded.

“Mapleshade, stop,” Ravenwing commanded.

Mapleshade ignored him. She took another unsteady step towards Appledusk. He didn’t say anything, just watching her with an empty look in his eyes. It was then Mapleshade’s vision began to blur before she fell unconscious again.

“You need to eat these.”

“I don’t want them.”

“I don’t—” Ravenwing sighed for the tenth time. Closing his eyes, he drew in a deep breath. “You can do yourself a favor and take these now, or keep arguing until you give in. Either way, you don’t have much of a choice. So I’d suggest saving your breath and taking these herbs.”

Mapleshade glared at him. Lowering her head, she swallowed the poppy seeds Ravenwing had given her.

She’d been awake for almost fifteen minutes at this point, or so she assumed. Her brain was clearer now, although her movements still felt sluggish and unreal. For some reason, she felt as though seasons had passed instead of a few hours.

“Am I going to pass out again?” she wondered.

“No, but you’ll feel fatigued. You’ll probably go to sleep earlier than normal and sleep later into the day,” Ravenwing explained.

Mapleshade curled up in her nest. Neither cat spoke for the longest time.

“What’s going to happen now?”

Ravenwing stopped organizing his herb store. “The Clan is going to hold vigil, like we always do.” He sighed again. “Beyond that, I’m not sure. Oakstar isn’t taking this well. No cat is.”

Obviously! Mapleshade thought bitterly.

“I’m not sure how Oakstar is going to choose a new deputy in his current state.”

“It’s already been decided.” A shadow fell across the entrance to the den. Mapleshade saw Goldenmist standing there. Her steps were heavy, her tail dragging across the ground as she came to sit next to Mapleshade’s nest.

“How are you feeling?” Goldenmist managed.

“How do you think I feel?” Mapleshade snapped.

Goldenmist didn’t react to the harshness in her tone. “Not good. I'm not either. I don’t know what to do, Mapleshade. I keep expecting Birchface to be there, but when I turn around… I see his body lying there. It’s not fair. He was acting so weird the last few days. I tried to talk to him, but he always brushed me off. And poor Flowerpaw. She was your kin, Mapleshade, and she was so young.”

Do you think I don’t know this?

“Dawnfeather doesn’t blame you,” Goldenmist continued. “She’s devastated, of course, but she knows it isn’t your fault. Nettlepaw keeps telling everyone how you jumped into the water after them both, but the currents were too strong. Even if you had gotten to her first, Appledusk might’ve drowned you as well.”

Mapleshade’s jaw dropped. “What?” She sputtered. “Appledusk didn’t—”

“Everyone saw it. Appledusk pushed Birchface into the river and then held his head underwater until he drowned,” Goldenmist insisted.

“That is not what happened. The rocks gave way, just like they did before. Appledusk wasn’t holding Birchface underwater; he was trying to save him. I saw it with my own eyes!”

Goldenmist shook her head. “You’re confused, Mapleshade. You were knocked underwater yourself. You hit your head.”

“I know what I saw, and it wasn’t that,” Mapleshade refuted. Goldenmist’s eyes narrowed.

“Goldenmist, I think it’s best if you leave.” Ravenwing stepped between them. “Mapleshade’s still in shock. I’ve just given her some more poppy seeds.”

“Right.”

Mapleshade glared after Goldenmist, her tail lashing back and forth. Ravenwing had to force her to sit back down. “You need to relax. You’re in a vulnerable state right now.”

“I don’t care what kind of state I’m in. I know what I saw. Goldenmist wasn’t even there, so how would she know?” Mapleshade argued. Her blood was boiling now. She ripped at the moss in her nest, tossing flecks of it across the den.

“Quit that!” Ravenwing swatted her paw with his own. “It doesn’t matter what happened. Birchface and Flowerpaw are dead regardless. There’s nothing any cat can do to bring them back.”

"It doesn't matter? Of course it matters! We're talking about blaming an innocent cat for a complete accident. I was there. I know what happened," Mapleshade retorted.

After that, Mapleshade paid no attention to the passing of time. Lying on her side, she let her mind drift back and forth between a period of silence and an explosion of incoherent thought. It was as though her mind was screaming a million things at her all at once. Every time she tried to track a thought, ten more crashed into it, making her lose her train of thought completely. She preferred the silence to that.

It was nighttime when the ferns outside of the medicine cats’ den swished. This time, Oakstar walked in. He didn’t bother to make small talk. He barely looked interested in life. “You’re alive,” he rasped.

What an astute observation! Mapleshade clenched her jaw, but didn’t say anything.

“Birchface isn’t. He’s dead. You know that already.” Oakstar shook his head. “I don’t want to even think about it. But as the warrior code commands, the leader must choose a new deputy before moonhigh.”

“I send my congratulations to Goldenmist, then.” 

“No,” Oakstar said. “I want you to replace Birchface, Mapleshade. I want you to be the next deputy.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-eight

“No,” Oakstar said. “I want you to replace Birchface, Mapleshade. I want you to be the next deputy.”

Mapleshade didn’t react at first. This was the last thing she expected Oakstar to say to her. Of all the warriors in ThunderClan, why would Oakstar want her to be anything? She wasn’t particularly skilled in any way, and she’d never thought of herself as leader material. “I don’t understand.”

“I understand if you’re not interested, but I trust you. You’ve done a lot for this Clan. But most importantly, you were Birchface’s friend. You have no idea how much you meant to him, Mapleshade. I know he’d rest well in StarClan knowing you’ve taken his place.”

Guilt washed over Mapleshade as memories of her last conversation with Birchface came to mind. If only Oakstar knew the truth.

It wasn’t just the argument with Birchface that made her feel uneasy. It was her relationship with Appledusk as well. How could she be ThunderClan’s deputy when her heart belonged to a cat across the river?

The story Oakstar had shared with her all those moons ago popped back up. Mapleshade’s shoulders dropped, and she lifted her ears. Emberstar had done it, and everything turned out fine. He’d clearly had a successful life and a family of his own. Why would she be any different?

And… if Mapleshade became leader, she could do whatever she wanted. Appledusk could join ThunderClan, and there would be nothing any cat could say to her about it. They’d have to accept him.

“I’ll do it. For Birchface.”

For Appledusk, really. And for my future, so that I can finally be happy one day.

“Thank you, Mapleshade.” Oakstar dipped his head. “I’ll announce it right now. You don’t have to come to the ceremony. I know you’re still recovering.”

“Right.”

Oakstar left without another word.

That evening, Mapleshade pulled herself out of her nest. With unsteady paws, she found herself in the center of camp. Birchface and Flowerpaw were lying there, their legs tucked beneath their chins.

Birchface’s jaw was slack. It made Mapleshade’s stomach churn. Hesitantly, she prodded it, trying to shut it, but his body was stiff. As soon as her paw touched his cool body, Mapleshade jerked back.

She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t bring herself to touch his body like this. It wasn’t him anymore. He was gone.

Her skin felt hot beneath her fur. Her eyes darted everywhere but to the bodies in front of her. She studied the trees lining camp, begging one of them to take on an unnatural shape to show she was dreaming. She wanted to wake up. But this was no dream. This was real life.

Choking back a sob, Mapleshade curled up several tail-lengths from the bodies. Were they watching her from StarClan? For a second, she allowed herself to wonder what dying was even like. What did poor Flowerpaw say when she found herself in the ranks of StarClan? Did Rowanfur come to greet her, or had it been some other cat? Perhaps it was Birchface if he’d gone first. Mapleshade shook the thoughts away, unable to take it any longer.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Slowly, she rolled onto her side. She took in Birchface’s appearance one final time.

I want you to know that I’m sorry for letting you down. I never meant to hurt you, and I never meant to lie. If you’re watching me, I hope you’ll realize Appledusk isn’t the cat you think he is. He’s good, and I love him.

Standing up, she touched her nose to the top of his head. The faint reek of death clung to his fur now.

Birchface was permanently gone from her life.

Mapleshade wasn’t sure how many days had passed. Each one seemed to be over within the blink of an eye. When she tried recalling the events of that day, her mind was empty. The only thing she could truly recall was watching Ravenwing reorganize his herb store. He worked over the herbs so much, muttering to himself as he went, that Mapleshade felt as though she could recite each one by heart.

A few cats had stopped by to congratulate her on becoming the next deputy, but Mapleshade didn’t take their words to heart. She was beginning to regret accepting Oakstar’s offer. The Clan would be keeping a closer eye on her now.

In the meantime, Beetail offered to organize the patrols until Mapleshade recovered. According to Ravenwing, it would be a few more sunrises before she was fully on her feet again, though no cat knew when the grief in her heart would fade.

Seeing Dawnfeather only made it worse. Her sister spent her days lying at the edge of the camp. Thrushtalon, Nettlepaw, and Hazelheart sat around her when they could, trying to soothe her. Mapleshade wanted to be there. She knew it was the right thing to do. But every time she attempted to talk to her sister beyond the brief conversations they’d shared over the last few days, her stomach lurched.

Exiting camp through the dirt place, Mapleshade retched. Covering it with some leaves, she padded deeper into the forest, heart pounding. To her surprise, the undergrowth behind her quivered.

“Are you okay?” Nettlepaw meowed.

“Yeah. I just got sick there for a moment.” Mapleshade ran a paw across her muzzle.

Dawnfeather appeared behind Nettlepaw. Mapleshade was surprised to see her, considering she barely left camp these days. “Do you need to see Ravenwing?”

“No. I’m fine.” Mapleshade’s throat tightened. “Dawnfeather, I’m so sorry. I promised you I’d keep her safe, and—”

“I already told you it wasn’t your fault.” Dawnfeather’s voice was emotionless, as was the expression on her face. “She shouldn’t have been at the battle to begin with. But I don’t want to talk about it.”

Just as Mapleshade opened her mouth to suggest hunting together, Dawnfeather walked away. Mapleshade’s tail drooped. Sighing, she sat down with her head hung.

Nettlepaw pressed against her. “I don’t think it’s your fault, Mapleshade,” he began. “Flowerpaw was trying to be heroic. She didn’t realize…” He stopped talking as his voice quivered. Mapleshade knew he was barely keeping it together.

“I think I’d try to save you if I thought I could,” Nettlepaw finished with.

Mapleshade stood back up. “I’m not someone worth saving.”

“I don’t think that. You’re my mentor and my kin. And overall, I think you’re a good cat.”

A good cat. Mapleshade almost snorted at the idea. “I’m glad you think so,” she said sarcastically, though to her relief, Nettlepaw didn’t pick up on it. Instead, he scampered after her as they headed deeper into the forest. This was the first time since the accident that Mapleshade had been out here.

“Do you smell anything?” Mapleshade asked, testing him. There was an overwhelming scent of lark nearby. Mapleshade could see it pecking at the ground in front of a bush.

Nettlepaw didn’t answer. He sneaked forward, eyes locked on the bird. When he was finally close enough, he pounced. Feathers flew into the air as Nettlepaw’s teeth sank into the lark’s throat, killing it quickly.

“Good job,” Mapleshade praised. Walking over, she began picking up the feathers.

“Is that for the nursery?” Nettlepaw mumbled through the lark in his jaws.

Mapleshade nodded. Flicking her tail, she beckoned him back towards the direction of camp. Nettlepaw trotted next to her. For the first time in days, he seemed to be his usual self again. Either that, or he was good at masking his grief. Suddenly, he stopped.

Mapleshade gave him a look. Nettlepaw dropped his lark, angling his head forward as he tried listening to something. Mapleshade placed the feathers down. “What?” she demanded.

“Shh.” Nettlepaw raised his tail.

Mapleshade tasted the air. She couldn’t smell anything beyond Nettlepaw’s catch. That was when she heard it. Unfamiliar voices in the distance. A growl rose in her throat. Scraping dirt over Nettlepaw’s prey, she crept forward, following the sound.

In the distance, the Twoleg’s Place came into view. Perched on the fence were several cats. Rogues, Mapleshade realized in an instant. While she didn’t recognize the cats individually, she could tell by their scent they were the same cats who’d terrorized the forest all those moons ago. Outside of a few sightings here and there and a minor skirmish, Mapleshade hadn’t caught hide or hair of them. To see them again now made her nervous.

She watched, waiting to see what they would do. They were still sitting on the fence, talking to each other. Their conversation wasn’t anything noteworthy in Mapleshade’s opinion. Still, she held her ground. She was itching for a fight, she realized, and the second one of the rogues set paw on their side of the border, she would attack.

To her disappointment, they left.

“Who was that?” Nettlepaw whispered as soon as they were out of earshot.

“The rogues I told you about before.”

“The ones that kidnapped me when I was a kit?” Nettlepaw’s eyes went wide. “You don’t think they’re after me again now, do you?”

“You’re too big for them to take now. Besides, you’d put up too much of a fight.” Mapleshade nudged him away from the Twoleg’s Place.

Nettlepaw stumbled after her. “What do you think they’re doing here now?”

“Who knows? Probably looking for trouble, like always. I’ll have to send some patrols over here just in case.” Those words felt strange leaving her mouth. She’d never organized a patrol before, yet this was her new reality. Her new responsibility. How was she supposed to manage this and her relationship with Appledusk?

Sighing, Mapleshade fell back. Nettlepaw paused. He tilted his head. “Mapleshade?”

“Can I ask you something?”

Nettlepaw looked confused. “Of course you can. Is something wrong? I didn’t… do anything bad, did I?”

“No.” Mapleshade shook her head. “It’s about what happened the other day.” She willed herself to keep her voice even. “Has the Clan said anything about it? About how it happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you heard any cat mention the name Appledusk?”

Nettlepaw shook his head. “No, I haven’t. Why? Does this have something to do with the rogues we saw just now?”

“In a way, yes.” Mapleshade wasn’t sure if she should continue. What she was about to tell him was something important, something she’d never told another cat before. She wanted to think she could trust Nettlepaw with this secret, but what if it only shattered his perception of her entirely? What if he accidentally told someone?

“I’m going to tell you something, and I need you to promise me you’ll keep this between us, no matter what you think about it,” Mapleshade said.

Nettlepaw’s eyes widened. He shrank down. “What’s wrong, Mapleshade?”

“You have to promise me, Nettlepaw.”

“A-Alright. I promise you. I won’t breathe another word to any cat, not even Flower—” Nettlepaw caught himself, a flash of pain crossing his expression. “Not even Dawnfeather,” he corrected himself.

“The other day, Goldenmist told me Appledusk drowned Birchface. But that isn’t true. I know Appledusk, and he would never hurt another cat like that.” Mapleshade waited for Nettlepaw’s reaction, but the apprentice simply gazed at her with a confused look on his face.

“Why would Goldenmist think that? They fell into the river. It was an accident!”

“It’s easier to blame someone else for something like this rather than accept the fact it was an accident outside of anyone’s control. She’s grieving, Nettlepaw, and she doesn’t know where to take that grief. So she projects it onto Appledusk,” Mapleshade explained.

Nettlepaw sat with that information for a long time. “But why? What does that do? It won’t bring Birchface back.”

“I don’t know. But if any cat says something to you about this, I want you to know it isn’t true. Appledusk didn’t kill Birchface. He’s not that kind of cat. He’s… kind. And he truly wants to help others. He helped me once.”

“He did?” Nettlepaw tilted his head.

“He’s the reason I was able to rescue you from the rogues.” Mapleshade quickly recalled the events of those several days as she trekked through the Twoleg’s Place with Appledusk in tow. She waited for Nettlepaw to judge her, but the little tom simply listened, his features relaxed.

“You can’t tell any cat about this. Understood?”

Nettlepaw nodded. “I promise.”

“Good.” A small weight lifted from Mapleshade’s shoulders. At the same time, she regretted saying anything. Appledusk was something she held close to her heart, and to share anything about him with another cat was something she’d never done before.

To her relief, Nettlepaw didn’t ask any questions. He took her at face value and left the conversation there. From there, he went back for his prey.

Glancing over her shoulder, Mapleshade studied the fence one last time. She reminded herself to send a patrol this way before following after Nettlepaw.

In the following days, Mapleshade slipped into her newfound position as deputy with an unexpected ease. She wasn’t sure if her Clanmates were taking it easy on her or if she was too numb to feel the stress of it all.

“What patrols have you sent out today?” Beetail wondered. The older tom sat next to her, eating.

“Bloomheart, Sweetbriar, and Mistpelt are patrolling the ShadowClan border. I had Crowfrost take Nettlepaw hunting.”

“Where’s Thrushtalon? I haven’t seen him today,” Beetail remarked.

“He’s hunting as well. He talked Dawnfeather into joining him.”

Beetail nodded. “Good. And what about the evening patrol? Have you thought about who you’re going to send on that?”

“I’m going,” Mapleshade said immediately. “I’ll bring Doefeather and Seedpelt. And maybe Embershine if she feels up for it.”

“Oh, good. She’s been itching to get out of the nursery for a while now. It’ll do her some good to stretch her legs. I wish I could do the same.” Beetail sighed. He pushed the gristle from his food away.

Mapleshade frowned. “How are your legs feeling now?”

“Hurts, but not as bad as they did those first few days. I’m lucky I wasn’t left paralyzed from the back down, though. Still, it’s hard to walk sometimes. My right leg’s better than the left. Ravenwing thinks that in time, it might go back to almost normal. But this one—” He stretched out his left leg, “—is going to be like this for good.”

“I’m sorry, Beetail.”

“Don’t be. I’ve made peace with it already. And after what happened to Birchface, I consider myself lucky. If any more of those rocks would’ve dislodged, it would’ve been me dead instead of just crippled.” Beetail shook his head. “StarClan is funny. You never know what they’ve got planned.”

“You’re not… resentful of me, are you?” Mapleshade wondered. She knew Beetail was willing to give up his position as deputy to Birchface, but this was something unexpected. She was never supposed to be the one taking over Beetail’s position.

“Resentful?” Beetail snorted. “Why would I be? Look, I was always grateful Oakstar made me his deputy. I served ThunderClan for many seasons, and it’s something I’ll always take pride in. But I was never in it for power, or what have you. I was helping an old friend. I was helping my Clan. And I did just that for a long, long time. Even without the accident, there’s no denying the fact I’m old.”

For the first time, Mapleshade noted the white hairs on his muzzle. His pelt was thinner, too.

“I would’ve retired sooner than later. StarClan just happened to speed up the process. But I’m happy where I’m at. Only thing, the elder’s den is a little empty, but the kits in the nursery keep me company. Won’t be long now before they’re apprenticed as well.” A gleam shone in Beetail’s eyes. “I’ve been practicing how to complain about ticks for a while now.”

Mapleshade purred. “Oh? You’re not going to become a grumpy elder on us all, are you?”

“Depends on how bad my joints are aching.”

The camp entrance rustled. Mapleshade turned to see Sweetbriar and the others from her patrol strolling into camp. Despite being a border patrol, each of them carried prey.

“Great job!” Mapleshade called to them as they passed.

Sweetbriar waved her tail before disappearing into Oakstar’s den.

“Well.” Mapleshade stood up. “I should probably get the next patrol around. And if you have any more tips, don’t hesitate, okay? I’m grateful to have your advice.”

Beetail dipped his head. “Anytime, Mapleshade.”

Mapleshade hung back, watching as her patrol continued through the forest without her. Her stomach was twisting again. In the week since her conversation with Beetail, it had only grown more intense. At first, she brushed it off as anxiety or a bad piece of prey, but this was something more. She’d never experienced anything like this before.

“Mapleshade, are you okay?” Harepaw, one of the newly named apprentices, studied her.

“I’m fine. Stay with Hazelheart and Crowfrost. I’ll catch up with you in a moment.” Mapleshade took a deep breath. The squirming in her stomach only intensified. It made her want to crawl out of her skin.

“I think you should go back to camp,” Hazelheart suggested. She gave Mapleshade a worried look.

“I said I’m fine,” Mapleshade snapped.

Hazelheart took a step back. Nudging Harepaw, she led the apprentice deeper into the forest, leaving Mapleshade behind.

Giving up on her patrol, Mapleshade decided to hunt. Maybe she was hungry. The more she thought about it, the more likely that seemed to be the cause of this weird feeling. She’d eaten only a vole this morning, and she’d been going ever since.

As soon as she came to that realization, her stomach seemed to growl. Mapleshade didn’t realize how famished she was until she’d scarfed down an entire rabbit by herself. It wasn’t particularly big, only a young thing by the look of it, but she could hardly believe she’d eaten it all in one sitting by herself.

Sitting up, she waited. At first, there was nothing. Then the squirming in her stomach came back.

Dread coursed through Mapleshade’s entire body. Something was wrong with her.

At that same moment, Appledusk’s head popped out from the undergrowth. Mapleshade jumped back. “Appledusk,” she breathed, “What are you doing here?”

“Your scent was blowing across the border. I haven’t seen you since…” he trailed off.

“I’ve been busy. I’m ThunderClan’s deputy now.” Mapleshade kept glancing in the direction the patrol had gone, begging StarClan that none of them were still in the vicinity.

“You are? Congratulations.” Appledusk touched his nose to hers. “How are you doing? I’ve been worried about you. I didn’t go to Fourtrees the first few nights because I thought you’d be laid up in Ravenwing’s den, but when you never came back, I thought… maybe you believed them.”

“You mean Goldenmist?”

Appledusk nodded. “She confronted me a few days ago.”

What? Mapleshade stared at him, waiting for him to go on. Goldenmist hadn’t mentioned anything about this to her or any cat, for that matter.

“I don’t know what I’ve done to convince her I murdered Birchface, but it’s absolutely fishbrained. Why would I try to drown someone who would’ve drowned anyway? If I wanted him dead, I could’ve left him in the water to fend for himself.” Appledusk spat the words out, his ears flattening to his head.

“She’s just grieving,” Mapleshade repeated the words she’d told Nettlepaw.

“Grieving? More like being a complete—”

Harepaw stumbled through the undergrowth. As soon as she saw Appledusk, her hackles rose. “RiverClan intruder!”

Mapleshade ran to her side, covering her mouth with a paw. Harepaw blinked, confused. “Appledusk is delivering a message from Cloudberry for Ravenwing,” Mapleshade lied. The words left her mouth so quickly that she didn’t even have to think of them.

“Right. I was on my way to your camp, but I ran into Mapleshade instead.” Rising to his paws, Appledusk dipped his head awkwardly, continuing to play into Mapleshade’s lie. “Anyway, don’t forget to tell Ravenwing about the borage.”

“I won’t. But next time—” Mapleshade forced a stern tone, “—have Cloudberry come ask us herself. We don’t need RiverClan warriors traipsing through our territory.”

Appledusk flicked an ear but said nothing.

As soon as Appledusk was gone, Harepaw meowed, “Do you want me to run back to camp and ask Ravenwing? Because I’ll do it! And then maybe, if Oakstar lets me, I can take it to RiverClan’s camp.”

“No,” Mapleshade snapped. Looking past Harepaw, she then asked, “Where is Hazelheart?”

Harepaw pointed with her muzzle a ways down the border.

“Stay with your mentor. You shouldn’t run off like this.”

Sighing, Harepaw kicked at an acorn. “Sorry.” She trudged off, tail drooping.

Now alone, Mapleshade forced out a breath. Her stomach was still twisting, and now she was fatigued. On top of that, she wondered just how much Harepaw had overheard. She assumed not much, considering how easily the young she-cat had bought her lie.

I just hope she doesn’t mention anything to Ravenwing, Mapleshade thought.

When she arrived back at camp, the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach was so intense she had no choice but to visit his den. Normally, she would’ve slept something like this off, but it was becoming too much for her.

“Ravenwing. I think something’s wrong with me,” Mapleshade called out, hovering at the entrance of his den.

Ravenwing flicked an ear. He didn’t look up from where he was pulling a thorn from Squirrelpaw’s paw pad. “There’s something wrong with all of us these days,” he muttered. As soon as the thorn was out, he nudged Squirrelpaw out of his den. The young she-cat brushed past Mapleshade, nodding as she went.

Now alone, Ravenwing gave Mapleshade his undivided attention. “What seems to be the matter?”

She explained the weird feeling in her stomach, the one refusing to let up. “And I’ve been fatigued the last several days. And hungry, too.”

Ravenwing placed a paw on her stomach. Mapleshade moved away, the fur on her neck bristling. “What are you doing?” she demanded.

“You’re expecting kits,” Ravenwing said with no hesitation.

“Excuse me, what did you just say?”

“You’re pregnant, Mapleshade.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-nine

Mapleshade didn’t react at first.

“No, that’s… I can’t be. How is that even possible?” she stammered.

“Please don’t tell me I have to explain to you where kits come from,” Ravenwing sighed.

Embarrassment pricked through Mapleshade’s pelt. She could feel the skin under her fur growing warm. “Of course not! I know how it works. StarClan,” she muttered, “Why does every cat talk to me like I’m mouse-brained?”

“You’d be surprised at the talks I’ve had to give to some cats,” Ravenwing sighed. Slipping into his den, he returned with a bundle of herbs a heartbeat later. “Take these. They’ll help your kits as they develop.”

Kits. Mapleshade still couldn’t believe it. She knew that was something possible, but she never thought it would happen to her. She wasn’t even sure she wanted kits. And what about her responsibility to the Clan?

She brushed those thoughts away. She was good at multitasking. She’d done it successfully so far: Appledusk, being deputy, and now being a mother. She could do it. She would do it, and she’d do it with ease. She’d prove Birchface wrong. And one day, like she hoped, Appledusk would be able to come to ThunderClan to be with her and their kits.

A purr rose in her throat. Leaning down, she lapped up the herbs Ravenwing placed before her.

“Thank you, Ravenwing,” Mapleshade told him.

“It’s nothing. Come back tomorrow for some more.” He paused. “Oh, if I were you, I’d ask someone to take over Nettlepaw’s training. You can still take him hunting or on patrol, but nothing more rigorous than that.”

Mapleshade flicked an ear. “I’m not made of ice. I won’t shatter into a hundred pieces if I do something strenuous.”

“Maybe not today, but it won’t be long. Take it easy. You’ll be doing yourself a favor.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“No, you’ll do as I say if you want healthy kits,” Ravenwing said.

Mapleshade rolled her eyes. “Right. Anyways.” She waved her tail at him and walked away.

The further she got, the heavier the weight of her situation weighed on her shoulders. She was pregnant with Appledusk’s kits.

How could I be so stupid? she thought. She sat in the forest, having exited through the dirt place. I can’t do this. I can’t be a mother. It’s not the right time.

Her kits wiggled in her stomach, reminding her of their presence yet again. She sighed. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you yet, but I promise I’ll try my best. I just hope you’ll be patient with me. I know in time I’ll come to love you just as much as I love your father.

The full moon illuminated the night sky, coating the forest in a gentle light. Mapleshade walked next to Oakstar, trying to keep pace with him as the two of them led the Clan to the Gathering.

Oakstar’s pace was slow. His tail was dragging on the ground. Flecks of gray fur appeared around his muzzle. For the first time, Mapleshade realized just how old he really was. Birchface’s death hadn’t made it any easier.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Goldenmist spoke. She walked on Oakstar’s other side, fretting over him like a mother to her kits. “I think it’s too soon. Mapleshade could make tonight’s report instead.”

Mapleshade clenched her teeth. What? Don’t make offers on my behalf! I need to talk to Appledusk.

She studied Oakstar, pleading with StarClan that he would shut Goldenmist down. To Mapleshade’s relief, he did. “There are some things I need to say to RiverClan myself,” Oakstar growled.

As soon as they arrived at Fourtrees, Mapleshade slipped into the crowd, losing the rest of her Clanmates. Her eyes darted back and forth, desperate to make out Appledusk’s figure anywhere in the crowd.

Where are you?

“Mapleshade.” Oakstar’s voice caused Mapleshade to flinch. She turned to face him. “Stick with the rest of the Clan tonight. I don’t plan to stick around for very long.”

“Yes, Oakstar.” She could feel her frustration rising, though she had no choice but to obey. If StarClan was on her side, she’d be able to find Appledusk just long enough to tell him the news, and that would be good enough for now.

Two figures moved towards them. Mapleshade recognized Sablestar and Plumwhisker of WindClan. As they came to stand before Oakstar, Sablestar dipped her head.

“Good evening,” she began.

“How’s the prey running in WindClan?” Oakstar’s head was turned away, his voice stiff. It was obvious he didn’t actually care and was just going through the formality for the sake of it.

“The prey is running well. But I wanted to give my condolences. I heard about Birchface. I’m sorry for your loss,” Sablestar told him.

“He was an excellent warrior. I know your Clan misses him,” Plumwhisker added.

The fur on the back of Oakstar’s neck bristled. “Word travels fast, I see.”

“If there’s anything WindClan can do for—”

“ThunderClan doesn’t need your help,” Oakstar snapped.

Sablestar’s ears flattened to her head. “Plumwhisker, Mapleshade, can you give us a moment?”

“Mapleshade, stay,” Oakstar ordered.

Sablestar narrowed her eyes at him.

“She already knows the truth,” Oakstar explained.

Sablestar’s eyes narrowed even further, though she did her best to let go of her annoyance. Once Plumwhisker had gone, Sablestar lowered her voice, “Don’t think you’re the only cat who cared for Birchface. He was my kin, too.”

Outrage flashed through Oakstar’s eyes. “Birchface was nothing to you. Don’t pretend you’re a part of my family, because you’re not. I’ve already told you to stay out of my business!”

“We share blood, whether you like it or not, Oakstar. And one day, I might be the only kin you have left. Don’t be so quick to cut me off.” Sablestar stormed away.

Oakstar stomped off in the opposite direction, leaving Mapleshade standing there. She pushed Oakstar’s drama to the back of her mind, going back to what she’d been doing previously. To her annoyance, Appledusk was nowhere to be found.

Just then, she spotted him amid the crowd. He was sitting next to Reedshine.

A growl rose in Mapleshade’s throat. Of course, he was sitting with her. Or perhaps it was the other way around, and Reedshine had wormed her way next to him. Yes, that was the more likely situation. Reedshine was so needy and desperate, it was obvious she was the one who couldn’t leave him alone.

Biting back the urge to say something, Mapleshade decided to seek out the other deputies. This would be her first time talking to them as a peer, and it made her nervous. Each of them had much more experience than she did.

“Fancy running into you again,” Plumwhisker meowed.

“Hello, Mapleshade,” Dustcloud said.

“How are you?” Mapleshade tried. She sat next to Spiketail, though the RiverClan deputy said nothing. Mapleshade ignored him as he stuck his muzzle up at her in disgust.

“I heard what happened to Birchface. I’m sorry to hear about it,” Dustcloud continued. She shook her head in disbelief. “Two deputies in such a short period of time. I can’t believe it.”

“I know. But these things happen sometimes. I remember when I was an apprentice, we lost two of our deputies back to back from greencough. It was a tough leafbare,” Plumwhisker sighed.

“Anyway, who’s ThunderClan’s new deputy?” Dustcloud asked.

“I am.” Mapleshade gave her chest fur a couple of licks.

“Really? I thought so, but I wasn’t certain. Congratulations,” Plumwhisker purred.

“Oakstar chose well,” Dustcloud said.

“Thank you.” Mapleshade’s embarrassment grew at their praise, though there was a part of her who was grateful for their support. If everything went smoothly, these would be the cats leading alongside her one day. It was an odd thing to think about.

The three she-cats slipped into a light-hearted conversation about nothing in particular. Spiketail remained silent, continuing to glare at Mapleshade, though he made no effort to move.

“Darkstar, get up here!” Oakstar’s voice rang across the clearing. Every cat went silent, turning their direction to the top of the Great Rock.

“What’s going on?” Plumwhisker hissed.

“I don’t know.” Despite her words, Mapleshade had a feeling she knew where this was going. She watched with bated breath as Darkstar walked through the crowd, Sablestar and Smokestar on her heels.

Standing atop the Great Rock, Darkstar hung back. She eyed Oakstar coolly. “You know this isn’t how we start a Gathering,” she said.

“Oakstar, what’s wrong?” Smokestar panted, coming to stand on Darkstar’s other side.

Oakstar ignored him. Thrusting his muzzle into Darkstar’s personal space, he spat, “You’re going to listen to me, and you’re going to do what I say, or I’ll send you to StarClan myself.”

“Whoa! Calm down.” Smokestar tried to step in front of Darkstar, but Oakstar shouldered past him.

Ripples of unease echoed throughout the crowd below.

“I don’t take orders from any cat, you old fool. Now get away from me!” Darkstar growled.

Oakstar ignored the insult. “Your warrior, Appledusk, killed my son. I want you to hand him over to ThunderClan immediately.”

Mapleshade’s heart dropped. Gasps rang out all around her. All at once, every cat turned to look at Appledusk. His eyes were wide with disbelief. Reedshine said something to him, though Mapleshade couldn’t hear it from where she sat. It frustrated her more than anything that she couldn’t be the cat at his side, comforting him at a time like this. It wasn’t fair that Reedshine got to be there.

Biting back a growl, Mapleshade turned her attention back to Oakstar. Just as she looked, Oakstar pinned Darkstar down. Smokestar and Sablestar hauled him off. Oakstar swatted at them.

“What in the name of StarClan is wrong with him?” Icestorm of ShadowClan exclaimed.

“He’s lost his mind!” Frogleap muttered.

Spiketail stormed past Mapleshade, knocking her shoulder as he went. Leaping atop the Great Rock, he stood nose to nose with Oakstar, an unsheathed paw lifted in the air.

“Go sit down!” Smokestar snapped at him.

“You sit down. This is between RiverClan and ThunderClan,” Spiketail spat.

Darkness covered the forest. It was no mystery to any cat that StarClan had sent a cloud to cover the moon. Despite that, no cat bothered to move from their place. Sablestar looked back and forth between Spiketail, Darkstar, and Oakstar, while Smokestar continued in vain to break up the fight.

“Don’t think you can come here and threaten me, Oakstar,” Darkstar said. She was on her paws again.

“I’ll do whatever I please. Now hand Appledusk over, or I’ll make you.”

“No.” Darkstar’s word was final. There was no hint of fear or uncertainty in her voice.

“Then consider this a warning—” Before Oakstar could finish his sentence, Spiketail shoved him. Oakstar’s back leg slipped from the edge of the Great Rock, causing him to tumble to the ground below.

Mapleshade, Ravenwing, and Sweetbriar were at his side immediately. If Oakstar was hurt, he didn’t show it. Standing to his paws, he tried to push past Sweetbriar, ignoring her cries of protest as she tried to hold him back.

“That’s enough! Please stop,” she pleaded.

“We need to leave. StarClan is furious,” Ravenwing added.

Oakstar ignored them. He was focused on Spiketail. The RiverClan deputy sat at the edge of the Great Rock, staring down at Oakstar. His tail lashed, taunting him.

It was then an idea flickered through Oakstar’s mind. As if she could read it, Mapleshade realized all too quickly what her leader was thinking. Oakstar pushed through the crowd, head held high as he tried to find Appledusk himself.

Mapleshade was right behind him. Ravenwing, Sweetbriar, and now Goldenmist followed. Due to the crowd, Oakstar didn’t make it very far before several RiverClan warriors apprehended him. Their eyes were narrowed. They spat insults towards Oakstar and the other ThunderClan cats. One of them swiped at Mapleshade’s shoulder, pushing her back.

She ignored them. All she could think about was Appledusk. He was gone, she realized. He must’ve slipped away after Spiketail had pushed Oakstar. Mapleshade couldn’t blame him for leaving, but that only made her frustration and anxiety worse. She needed to tell them about their kits!

“We’re going home now,” Mapleshade ordered. She nosed Oakstar away from the RiverClan warriors, earning a hiss of protest from him. He continued to fight against her. “You’re causing a scene!” 

Oakstar rounded on her, eyes blazing. 

“Let’s get out of here!” Goldenmist nudged her father away from the crowd. Mapleshade watched as they left, the rest of her Clanmates following after them. They stared ahead, their heads lowered to the ground in embarrassment.

She watched as Oakstar disappeared over the rise. A growl rose in her throat.

Ignoring the whispers, Mapleshade walked through the crowd. She kept her head lifted, refusing to let the hurt she felt bubble to the surface. She would deal with Oakstar when she arrived back to camp, but for now, she needed to find Appledusk.

Following his scent, she caught up with him near the RiverClan border. Reedshine was with him, just as Mapleshade expected. She didn’t care, though.

“Mapleshade.” Appledusk’s voice was tired.

“What are you doing here?” Reedshine demanded.

“I can handle this. Just… go back to camp. Please.” Appledusk gave Reedshine a weary look. His voice was even duller than before, if that was possible.

Reedshine didn’t budge. “No. Whatever Mapleshade wants to say can be said to both of us. A threat against you is a threat against me as well.”

“I’m not going to hurt him. Now get out of here,” Mapleshade snapped.

Reedshine’s hackles raised. “Make me. I just hope you’re a better fighter than your pathetic leader!”

“Quit!” Appledusk shouted. Letting out a groan, he stomped away from both of the she-cats. “I’m not in the mood for this. I’m going back to camp.”

“Wait!” Mapleshade started following him.

“Just go home, Mapleshade. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

Mapleshade’s heart dropped into her stomach, twisting and ripping, consumed by a pain she hadn’t experienced before. In all the years she’d known him, Appledusk had never spoken to her like this before. “No, it’s important. Wait—” she began, but Appledusk was already gone.

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirty

The next few days were a blur of chaos.

Following the scene Oakstar had caused at the Gathering, ThunderClan had been split in two. While some cats tried to look the other way, believing Oakstar to be caught in the throes of grief, others were furious with him for casting them into such an embarrassing predicament.

“If you can’t control your temper, you shouldn’t be leader!” Deerdapple shouted. Thrushtalon and Stormwhisker let out meows of agreement.

Oakstar, who was perched atop Highrock, let out a sigh. Before he could respond, Goldenmist came to her father’s defense.

“Are you saying we should allow RiverClan to get away with Birchface’s death?” she challenged. Whipping her head from side to side, she continued, “They’ve killed Dovesong. And the rogues they unleashed on the forest all those moons ago stole the lives of Rowanfur, Deerpaw, and Rabbitfur. Lest we forget poor Flowerpaw—”

“Flowerpaw’s death had nothing to do with RiverClan. She died because of Birchface’s poor planning,” Thrushtalon growled.

Dawnfeather, who was sitting next to Thrushtalon, bowed her head. Her shoulders began to shake as she was overcome with another wave of grief. Thrushtalon pressed against her. He whispered something into her ear, then looked back at Goldenmist. “Stop using our grief against us.”

“I’m not! I’m just saying—”

“Enough. Thrushtalon is right,” Oakstar sighed. He looked back at Deerdapple. “I know I allowed my anger to get the best of me the other night, and I’m sorry for that. But I still stand on my belief that Appledusk is responsible for Birchface’s death. He held him under the water.”

“No, he didn’t. I was there,” Mapleshade spoke up.

“How would you know? You almost drowned yourself!” Goldenmist argued.

“Because I was there! You weren’t.” Annoyance rippled through Mapleshade’s body. She’d already had this conversation with Goldenmist before. No matter what she said, the golden-furred she-cat refused to budge from the idea that Appledusk was responsible. At first, Mapleshade had been willing to let it slide, but now she had no more patience. She was tired of it all. Tired of arguing. Tired of no cat listening to her. Tired of every cat doubting her actions and treating her like a mouse-brain. And for what? She’d never done anything to make them doubt her. She was the deputy now, for StarClan’s sake!

It was then she realized the power she held over Goldenmist.

“I’m not arguing with you over this anymore.” Mapleshade glanced at the fresh-kill pile. It was fuller than she hoped for, but she decided to go through with her idea nonetheless. “Take a hunting patrol towards the Thunderpath. Cherrypetal and Rookpaw, go with her.”

Goldenmist’s eyes narrowed. Gathering up the rest of her patrol, she led them out of camp without another word. Mapleshade watched them go, pleased with herself, though she doubted this would be the last time Goldenmist brought up this particular conversation.

The rest of the crowd broke up after that. Hazelheart and Doefeather took Harepaw and Mumblepaw to the sandy hollow to train. Graytuft and Deerdapple decided to go hunting together. Thrushtalon took Dawnfeather and Nettlepaw for a walk to clear their minds.

Now alone in the camp clearing, Mapleshade decided to see if she could seek out Appledusk. As if on cue, her kits squirmed. They were growing more active now. She still hadn’t told any cat the news, but it wouldn’t be long now. She could tell her stomach was starting to widen, though her thick, fluffy pelt hid it for now.

She wanted to tell Appledusk before the rest of her Clanmates found out. He was the father, after all. She just wondered how he would react. Memories of their last conversation came back to her. For some reason, they hurt more in the following days than they had face-to-face. She wasn’t sure if it was due to the adrenaline from the Gathering having worn off or because, in a way, it reminded her of her last conversation with Birchface.

Mapleshade stopped walking.

Birchface.

She hadn’t thought of him much since his passing. More like, she refused to think about him. She still couldn’t believe he was gone, and Flowerpaw, too. That was what made it worse for Mapleshade. Flowerpaw, so young and determined, giving up her life to try and save someone who was destined to die anyway... It wasn’t fair.

She wondered if Birchface was still angry with her. She hoped not.

I’m not bad, I promise. I wish you were here to see that.

“I forgive you.”

Mapleshade’s head snapped up. Her jaw dropped. There in front of her was Birchface. His figure was blurry, barely a wisp, but it was undeniably him. Her paws carried her to his side without thinking.

“What are you doing here?” she whispered. She tried to draw in his scent, but he had none.

“I let my anger get the best of me, but now I realize… I was wrong. Don’t let my father make the same mistake.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. I tried—” Mapleshade choked out.

“Who are you talking to?”

Mapleshade turned around. Graytuft and Deerdapple stood there, heads tilted in confusion. She looked back to where Birchface had stood, but he was gone. Mapleshade’s mouth hung open. Should she tell them the truth? Would they believe her? Then again, perhaps Birchface had intended for this to be kept between them.

“No one.”

Deerdapple didn’t look convinced. “Right.” She blinked a few times. The silver warrior then nudged Graytuft. “We’re going to keep hunting.”

“Er… right. Good luck,” Mapleshade tried.

“Thanks. You too.”

Alone again, Mapleshade willed for Birchface to come back, but he didn’t. She tried to ignore the disappointment she felt, instead focusing on the words he’d shared with her.

He forgave her. That was all that mattered to Mapleshade. If only she could’ve had his forgiveness in life, but she had to accept the small victories when she could. She wondered if he would visit her again. Would he congratulate her about the kits?

Mapleshade shook her head. She was getting too carried away now. She needed to find Appledusk.

As if StarClan was on her side, she picked up his scent from across the border. As the breeze picked up, the overwhelming smell of murky water and reeds enveloped her, blocking out Appledusk's scent. It made her throat tighten and her stomach lurch. Her heart was pounding now. She could still remember the taste of the water in her mouth and the burning sensation in her throat and lungs as her body tumbled beneath the waves. Her chest felt tight now just thinking about it. Her limbs became heavier. With every step she took, she became all too aware of the blood pounding through them like dead weights. It was too much for her.

Still, she continued. She needed to talk to Appledusk now. She couldn’t wait any longer. Time was running out.

“Appledusk,” she called loudly.

Appledusk slipped through the reeds, an irritated look on his face. He glanced over his shoulder, then back at her, nosing her beneath an overgrown bush. “What are you doing? My Clanmates are here,” he hissed.

“I don’t care. I need to talk to you.”

“Are you trying to get me into more trouble than I already am?”

Mapleshade leaned against him, breathing in his scent. She closed her eyes. “Don’t be so cross with me. It isn’t like you.”

Appledusk closed his eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be rude. I’m just going through a lot right now.” Letting out a breath, he allowed himself to relax. He touched his nose to the top of her head.

“I’m pregnant,” Mapleshade announced. She couldn’t wait any longer.

Appledusk pulled back, eyes wide. “You’re what?”

“I’m pregnant. It’s yours. What do you think?”

Appledusk blinked a few times. At first, Mapleshade braced herself, expecting him to react negatively. To her relief, his expression softened. He butted his head against hers, a loud purr rising in his throat. “I’m going to be a father. Incredible.”

“Isn’t it, though?”

Appledusk nodded. “But how are you feeling about it?”

“I’m nervous,” Mapleshade admitted, “but I don’t regret it. I don’t regret any of the moments I’ve spent with you, Appledusk.”

A shadow fell across Appledusk’s vision. He lowered his head, his ears back. Mapleshade tensed. Did he not feel the same?

“What’s wrong?” Mapleshade demanded.

“Nothing. I’m just thinking about what this means. Now that you’ll be moving into the nursery, we won’t be able to see each other much anymore. And I won’t be able to play a role in our kits lives,” Appledusk explained.

“What? Of course you will! I’ll make sure they know who you are.”

“What about your Clanmates? They’ll never accept this, not now.” Appledusk’s voice took a bitter turn. He spat out those words like they were poison.

“This is none of their business. A queen has the right to privacy. As far as anyone is concerned, they are my kits, and that is all they need to know.”

“Have they asked you about it yet?”

“No. Only Ravenwing knows. I didn’t want to tell any cat until I’d spoken to you first,” Mapleshade said. She felt a twinge of anxiety at the prospect of announcing the news to the entire Clan. “I don’t think it will be long before they start to speculate, though.”

“They don’t know?” Appledusk looked surprised. Then he asked, “What about your position? Does this mean you’ll have to step down as the deputy?”

“I don’t know.” Mapleshade gave her chest fur an annoyed lick. “And I don’t really care. All I care about is us. Our family is my first priority.”

“You have to be careful,” Appledusk told her.

“I am being careful. Don’t worry. And trust me when I say I’ll make sure you can be a part of our kits lives. I don’t know how—”

“We’ll work something out once they’re born. Until then, I want you to be careful. Take care of yourself. Don’t overexert yourself.” Appledusk licked the top of her head.

“I won’t,” she promised.

Appledusk quickly jerked back as the sound of his Clanmate’s voices filled the air. He didn’t have time to say goodbye. Rushing to meet with the rest of his patrol, Mapleshade could just barely hear the flimsy excuse he gave to them. If they didn’t believe him, she didn’t know.

Scrambling out from beneath the bush, Mapleshade slunk towards the border. Once she was a safe distance across ThunderClan’s scent markers, she glanced back just in time to see Eeltail and Milkfur sniffing at the yew bush she’d narrowly escaped from.

“Do you think you could take over Nettlepaw’s training for me?” Mapleshade stood in front of Deerdapple.

The older she-cat was lying at the edge of camp, gnawing on a squirrel. Faint peach-colored light was beginning to glow through the branches surrounding ThunderClan’s camp.

“I suppose so. Why?” Deerdapple licked her lips.

Mapleshade took a deep breath. She ran a paw through the sand. It was simple. All she needed to do was say those two simple words. Why was it so hard? Why couldn’t she say it? She’d told Appledusk so easily.

“I’m… expecting.”

Deerdapple’s eyes widened. “Oh, you are? Congratulations. In that case, I don’t mind taking over the rest of Nettlepaw’s training.”

Mapleshade frowned. Of course. She’d be missing the rest of Nettlepaw’s training. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t realized that sooner. A flicker of guilt washed over her as she glanced in the direction of the apprentice’s den.

Nettlepaw was the last to leave, trailing behind the rest of his denmates. They were younger than him, and each of them had a littermate of their own. Nettlepaw was alone now. Now Mapleshade was abandoning him, too.

“Don’t feel bad,” Deerdapple told her, sensing her unease. “You’ve done a lot for the poor scrap. I’ll watch over him from now on.”

“Thank you, Deerdapple. I appreciate it.”

“Do you want me to tell him the news, or should I leave that up to you?”

“It’s only fair that I talk to him. He deserves to hear this from me. To understand why I can’t train him anymore.” Pulling herself up, Mapleshade crossed the clearing.

“Good morning, Nettlepaw,” Mapleshade said.

“Morning,” Nettlepaw mumbled.

“Hey, there. What do you have for us today?” Mumblepaw asked through a mouthful of prey.

“That’s disgusting. Chew with your mouth closed.” Squirrelpaw wrinkled her nose.

“What? It’s just prey!” Mumblepaw shot back.

“And I don’t want to see it!” Squirrelpaw battered his ear with a sheathed claw. Mumblepaw rolled onto his back. Grasping her with his front paws, he pulled her to the ground.

Harepaw watched as her littermates tussled on the sandy ground. She was just about to bunch her muscles and jump into the fight when Doefeather, Mumblepaw’s mentor, walked up.

“Hey! You’re supposed to be joining the border patrol this morning. Don’t you remember Mapleshade told you that last night?” Doefeather gave Mumblepaw a stern look.

Mumblepaw shook sand from his pelt. “Er… right. Guess I forgot.” He shot Mapleshade an apologetic look.

“But where’s Goldenmist?” Squirrelpaw looked around for her mentor.

“About that—” Goldenmist’s voice rang out through the clearing. She squeezed through the throng of warriors that had gathered, a plump pigeon dangling from her jaws. She placed it in front of Mapleshade. “Squirrelpaw, do you think you could join Harepaw and Hazelheart today?”

“What’s this?” Mapleshade eyed the pigeon.

“It’s for you. You need it.” Goldenmist pushed the pigeon closer to Mapleshade. There was a gentleness in her eyes that Mapleshade had never seen before.

“You’re not coming?” Squirrelpaw tilted her head to the side.

“No. There’s something I want to do today.” Goldenmist continued to stare at Mapleshade as if she’d hung the moon herself.

“What’s going on?”

“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with Deerdapple.” Goldenmist’s voice was giddy. Picking up the pigeon again, she led Mapleshade to a more secluded corner of camp. “Congratulations, Mapleshade.”

Mapleshade’s skin felt ablaze beneath her fur. She turned her head away, too embarrassed to look Goldenmist in the eyes. Was this how every cat was going to treat her from now on? The very thought made her want to jump in the river. “Thank you.”

“I know it’s going to be hard without Birchface around, but I want you to know I’m here for you if you ever need anything. I mean it.”

“What?” Mapleshade tilted her head.

Goldenmist looked equally as confused. “Birchface is the father, isn’t he?”

Mapleshade’s heart sped up. How was she supposed to answer that? Obviously not with the truth! But what if Goldenmist continued to pry into her personal life?

“You don’t have to be shy. I already know the two of you were mates. You’ve been close friends since we were kits, after all. When he started acting strange right before he died, I thought maybe you’d turned him down, but now I know the truth: he was nervous about the kits. I just wish you two had told me sooner!”

Mapleshade choked. This was not how she expected this conversation to go. It was too late to say anything now. She then relaxed, thinking back to the last conversation she’d had with Birchface. Perhaps he knew this was going to happen, and that’s why he’d come to tell her he forgave her? Yes. That had to be it.

“Thank you, Goldenmist. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“You don’t know what this means to me. My brother is going to live on through these kits. It’s wonderful.” Goldenmist pushed the pigeon to Mapleshade again. “Eat this, please, and keep your strength up. And don’t worry about your duties—I’ll take over for you.”

“I’m not sure that’s up to you.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Oakstar won’t care. Go on, eat!”

Giving in, Mapleshade bit into the pigeon. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she was licking the last of the prey from her lips. Her kits wriggled in her stomach.

For the first time since Birchface’s death, Mapleshade felt optimistic.

Everything was going to be okay.

“What?” Nettlepaw stood in front of her, wide-eyed. His shoulders drooped, and his tail brushed against the ground.

The two of them stood in the middle of the forest, the morning air crisp and cool, though Mapleshade knew the heat of the day wasn’t far off. She sat on the root of a tree, her tail wrapped around her paws, as she told Nettlepaw what was going on.

“You’re abandoning me,” Nettlepaw continued.

“No. It’s not like that.” Mapleshade hurried to his side. She tried to press against him, but Nettlepaw recoiled.

“You are. You…”

“I’m not abandoning you. I love being your mentor. You’re such a brilliant cat, and I’m proud of the progress you’ve made. I’d love to keep training you, but soon it won’t be safe enough. I have to stay healthy for my kits. Please don’t think this has anything to do with you.” She leaned out again. This time, Nettlepaw allowed her to nuzzle his cheek.

“I’m sorry. I just feel so alone…” Nettlepaw whispered.

Mapleshade’s eyes glistened. “No, don’t feel that way. I’ll always be around, and Dawnfeather, too.”

“She’s always sad now.”

“She’s grieving, Nettlepaw. She’s going to be grieving for a long, long time. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you or that we’re abandoning you. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll come watch your training.”

Nettlepaw perked up. “You’d do that?”

Mapleshade nodded. “Of course.”

“Thank you, Mapleshade. For everything. You’ve been an amazing mentor,” Nettlepaw meowed. Tilting his head to the side, he asked, “Do you know what you’re going to name your kits yet?”

Mapleshade paused. Names. She hadn’t given it a single thought so far. She dug through her mind, trying to figure out if any names stuck out to her, but nothing came to mind. “No. I haven’t. I’ll have to wait and see when they’re born. After all, I don’t even know how many I’ll be having.”

Nettlepaw shuffled his paws on the ground. He looked as though he wanted to suggest something, but he held back.

“What is it?” Mapleshade leaned forward.

“Do you think,” Nettlepaw began, “you could name one after Flowerpaw? To honor her?”

A purr rose in Mapleshade’s throat. “That’s a beautiful idea. I love it!”

“You do?” Nettlepaw perked up even more.

“Yes. I have just the idea, too: Petalkit. I think that’s perfect. Thank you, Nettlepaw.”

From there, the two cats enjoyed their last hunt together as mentor and apprentice. Mapleshade allowed Nettlepaw to take the lead, letting him show off his skills. He was a capable hunter with quick reflexes. Mapleshade couldn’t help but feel proud as the two of them strolled into camp, Nettlepaw’s jaws full of prey.

“Mapleshade.” Dawnfeather stood there. Her eyes were dull.

“Mother, are you hungry?” Nettlepaw asked. “I caught your fav—”

“No.”

Nettlepaw looked crestfallen. If Dawnfeather noticed, she didn’t pay much attention. “I heard you’re pregnant,” she said to Mapleshade.

“Yes. I am.”

Dawnfeather clenched her jaw. She turned her head away, eyes glistening. The look on her face made Mapleshade’s throat tighten. This wasn’t the reaction she expected. While she knew Dawnfeather was grieving, there was a part of Mapleshade that hoped this news would bring a shred of happiness back to her sister’s life. All she saw now was pain.

“I can’t be around you. I’m sorry.” Without saying anything else, Dawnfeather rushed off. Nettlepaw took a few steps after her before giving up.

He looked back at Mapleshade. “She’s grieving, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you,” he tried, repeating the same words Mapleshade had spoken to him earlier.

“I know,” Mapleshade choked out. “But it doesn’t make any of this easier.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirty-one

Mapleshade writhed in her nest as another contraction shot through her body. They were coming quicker now, each one more painful than the last. Instinctively, her body pushed. She tried to keep herself from crying out, but the pain was too great.

"Good job. Good job. Keep doing exactly what you're doing. And…" Ravenwing leaned down. "The first kit has been born. Good." He pulled the kit away from her body, nudging it towards her muzzle.

Mapleshade leaned down and nipped the sack off. A nervous purr shook her body as she lapped at the kit's blood-soaked skin. The kit wriggled blindly but did not cry. Mapleshade continued to rasp her tongue across its tiny body, her movements more urgent now.

At last, the kit opened its tiny jaws and let out a squeak.

The last two kits were born shortly after, in similar fashion, though she'd been in too much of a daze to notice the pain. Lying on her side, Mapleshade kneaded her nest while the kits squirmed against her belly, suckling. It was odd, lying in this nest in the nursery like this. She'd never imagined herself in this situation. But now that she was here, with these tiny beings curled against her, she was consumed by an overpowering love she'd never felt before.

She still hadn't given them names, aside from the one she'd already decided to name Petalkit—a light brown she-kit, the only one of her litter. The other two were toms. One was dark brown, while the other resembled her.

She looked down at her sons. The dark brown tom was the first of his siblings to be born. He was the largest, too. Mapleshade ran through a list of names she'd quickly put together a few days prior.

Larchkit, she decided.

It wasn't long before she settled on Patchkit for the tortoiseshell tom. She ran her tail across his tiny frame, purring as she did so.

Despite the overwhelming joy she felt, she couldn't ignore the longing she felt for Appledusk. It wasn't fair that he wasn't allowed to be here. He was missing out on one of the most important moments in their relationship, all for something that didn't matter in the end. There was no reason why two cats from another Clan couldn't be together. Mapleshade couldn't believe she'd clung onto that foolish belief for so long. If only she had dropped those misconceptions earlier. She could've allowed herself to have more time together with Appledusk. Perhaps their relationship could've solved the tension between ThunderClan and RiverClan once and for all. If their Clanmates could see they weren't so different from one another, they'd have no reason to fight.

Now it was too late. Oakstar would never budge. He hated RiverClan too much.

Mapleshade didn't let that bother her. Oakstar was older. She wasn't sure how many lives he had left, but she figured it wouldn't be long before he died. She would be the leader of ThunderClan then. There would be no more tensions between ThunderClan and RiverClan after that.

She looked at her kits again. They were already so strong and full of life. She could tell just by looking at them that they'd grown up to be big, strong warriors. Their Clanmates would have no choice but to respect them rather than judge them. Mapleshade was certain of this.

A shadow fell over the entrance of the nursery. Lifting her head, Mapleshade saw Goldenmist and Oakstar walk inside. Goldenmist dropped a squirrel in front of her.

"I caught this for you. It's fresh," Goldenmist announced.

"Thank you. I'm starving!" Mapleshade turned slightly so as not to disturb her kits. Bowing her head, she took a bite of the prey, closing her eyes as the juicy flavors hit her tongue.

Goldenmist peered down. A purr rumbled in her throat. "They're beautiful. Congratulations! What are they?"

"Two toms and a she-kit," Mapleshade answered through a mouthful of food.

"Wow. This dark one looks just like Birchface. You should name it after him," Goldenmist said.

Mapleshade narrowed her eyes. "I've already thought of names for them. His name is Larchkit."

"Larchkit? But don't you think it would be better to name him after his father?"

They're my kits, not yours! "No. I don't want him growing up in another cat's shadow. I want them all to be their own cats. His name is Larchkit. The other two are Petalkit and Patchkit." Mapleshade gestured to each one as she introduced them. She could see the disappointment in Goldenmist's eyes, though she didn't argue any further.

Oakstar, who'd been silent so far, just studied the kits with a blank stare on his face. After a moment, he said, "They seem strong. I'm glad."

"They are strong. I know they'll be great warriors one day."

"Of course they will. Birchface was one of the best warriors we had," Goldenmist meowed. "If only he could be here now…"

Mapleshade stopped chewing. She watched Goldenmist through narrow eyes, trying to mask the rising annoyance she felt. "I'm sure he's watching over them from StarClan," she mumbled.

Goldenmist nodded. "You're right. I didn't think about that." She turned her head to Oakstar. "And Dovesong. These kits are her kin as well. Perhaps the two of them are talking about these kits right now. And Rowanfur and Flowerpaw, too!" Goldenmist leaned down to lick one of the kits.

"You three have a host of warrior ancestors watching over you right now. You have no idea how protected you are."

Mapleshade drew a tail around her kits, pulling them closer to her stomach. She gave Goldenmist a fierce look. Her annoyance grew as Goldenmist seemed oblivious to the dirty look.

"I'm going to gather clean bedding for you. I'll be back later." She exited the den, tail held high.

Oakstar continued watching the kits in silence. Then he, too, left the nursery.

Later that evening, Hazelheart, Thrushtalon, and Nettlepaw came to visit. Hazelheart had been in the nursery while Mapleshade was giving birth, though this was Thrushtalon and Nettlepaw's first time meeting the kits.

"They're so small. Is this what I looked like when I was born?" Nettlepaw looked to his father.

"Just about," Thrushtalon answered.

"Where's Dawnfeather?" Mapleshade wondered.

Thrushtalon's shoulders stiffened. "She still needs time. I'm sorry."

Mapleshade sighed. While she'd had brief conversations with Dawnfeather here and there, her sister preferred to keep as much distance between them as possible. It was beginning to irritate Mapleshade. She knew Dawnfeather was grieving, but she'd had almost two moons to accept the fact that Mapleshade was going to have a family of her own. Now the kits were here, and her sister still couldn't find the time to swallow her grief and visit her kin?

"I can see their colors so much clearer now that they've dried off," Hazelheart commented.

Mapleshade nodded, grateful to shift the subject to something more lighthearted. "They're cute, aren't they?"

"This one looks just like you." Nettlepaw pointed at Patchkit.

"Doesn't he?" A purr rose in Mapleshade's throat. "His name is Patchkit. The other two are Larchkit and Petalkit."

"Petalkit? You decided to go with that name after all?" Nettlepaw's eyes gleamed.

"Oh? Were you helping Mapleshade think of names?" Thrushtalon asked.

"No, not really. But a while ago, I asked if she would name one after Flowerpaw. I thought it would be nice," Nettlepaw said.

"It is nice. I think that was a great idea. It's a good way to honor her without being too on the nose," Hazelheart meowed.

"I agree."

"You're not bothered by that, are you?" Mapleshade asked Thrushtalon. "Flowerpaw was your daughter. I don't want you to feel like I'm trying to replace her or anything."

Thrushtalon shook his head. "No. If anything, it makes me happy to know you thought of her." His voice was thick with emotion, but he forced himself to stay calm. "It's comforting to me. And if Nettlepaw asked for this, that makes me feel all the better."

Mapleshade poked her head out of the nursery. Sliding through the entrance, she placed a paw on the sandy ground. It was still cool enough for her kits' sensitive paws.

"Come out," she called, turning to face them.

Three tiny figures huddled in the darkness of the nursery. Their big, blue eyes were glued on her, though they did not attempt to follow her.

"Come on," Mapleshade urged. She began walking away from the nursery. Glancing over her shoulder, she flicked her tail at them, trying to lure them after her.

At first, none of them moved. Then Petalkit, on her unsteady, stubby legs, tumbled out. She was slow, and every so often, she stumbled to the ground. She didn't cry. Instead, she picked herself back up and continued to toddle after Mapleshade.

"Good job!" Mapleshade exclaimed. She covered Petalkit in licks. Petalkit pressed against her stomach.

Larchkit and Patchkit continued hiding in the nursery. Mapleshade walked back to them. She grabbed Larchkit by the scruff, gently pulling him out of the den. He let out one mew but then went silent. Mapleshade sat him on the ground. She did the same thing to Patchkit, who was much noisier than his brother.

Outside of the nursery for the first time, her sons looked around the camp clearing in awe. Patchkit leaned his head so far back that he tumbled over.

"Careful, now." Mapleshade nudged him to his paws again, choking back her amusement.

Petalkit tumbled over to her brothers. She brushed against Mapleshade's leg.

"Don't worry. I haven't forgotten about—" Mapleshade lifted her head. Larchkit had stumbled to the middle of the camp.

Cherrypetal strolled past, a twinkle in her eye. "Why, hello there! Is this your first time out of the nursery? I can't believe how fast you've grown!" She looked at Mapleshade. "Seems like you've got your paws full."

"Oh, I do."

Cherrypetal prodded Larchkit with a paw. "Go back to your mother. Don't wander away too far."

Embershine and Graytuft hurried over. "Are those Mapleshade's kits?"

"I can't believe how big they've gotten," Graytuft remarked.

"That's what I was just telling Mapleshade. Time flies," Cherrypetal said.

Settling into the shade at the edge of camp, Mapleshade watched in amusement as her kits played. Larchkit grabbed a leaf in his mouth, tumbling around with it. His tiny, unstable paws poked and prodded the leaf. Suddenly, he lost his footing and fell face forward.

"Oh!" Mapleshade nudged him up. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I was playing with it."

"I see that. Do you know what that is?"

Larchkit shook his head.

"It's a leaf."

"A leaf," Petalkit echoed. She poked it herself, only to jump back when it moved. Patchkit raced to Mapleshade's side, hiding beneath her tail, shaking.

Mapleshade lifted her tail. Patchkit cowered to the ground, his tiny eyes wide. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Patchkit. The leaf moved because Petalkit touched it. But it won't hurt you. See?" She batted at the leaf, sending it into the air. Patchkit watched in amazement as it fluttered back to the ground.

Petalkit stumbled forward, swiping at the leaf again, but just as Larchkit had done a moment earlier, she lost her footing. Larchkit pounced on top of her, biting her foreleg. Petalkit squealed, kicking at his stomach.

"Hey. Be gentle," Mapleshade reminded him.

"Don't coddle them too much, or you'll make them soft," Beetail remarked, padding forward. He sat a few tail-lengths away and watched as the kits played. "They're a little clumsy, don't you think?"

Mapleshade flicked an ear, annoyed. "They're just learning how to walk. Give them a half-moon, and they'll be fine."

"Birchface was already walking by this age. And so were you, if I remember correctly."

"Well, good for us, I suppose." Mapleshade resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She couldn't believe Beetail was bothering her with something so mouse-brained. She knew he was a tom, but surely he wasn't that detached from the typical milestones for a kit. There was nothing wrong with any of her kits. Unless…

A shiver of anxiety ran down Mapleshade's spine, her fur rising. She glanced at Beetail from the corner of her eye, wondering what he was thinking. Did he suspect something? Was that what this was about? No. That wasn't possible. She was careful. And besides, there was nothing about her kits that gave away their true parentage.

To her relief, Nettlepaw walked over carrying a wad of moss in his jaws. "Hey, Mapleshade. Hello, little ones." He set the moss down and touched noses with the three curious kittens that had gathered around him.

Patchkit daringly swatted at the moss. He let out a yelp of surprise as his claw got stuck.

Nettlepaw reached out, unhooking his claw. "There you go."

Patchkit backed away.

"What do you say to Nettlepaw for helping you?" Mapleshade looked at him pointedly.

"We say 'thank you,'" Larchkit mewed.

"Yes, but Patchkit?"

"Thank you," Patchkit squeaked.

"You're welcome. I was thinking we could play with it." Nettlepaw lifted his head. "Can they, Mapleshade? Or do you think they're too young?"

"I think it would do them good. It might improve their coordination," Beetail interjected.

Shut up! Mapleshade glared at him again. Turning to Nettlepaw, she said, "Of course. But just for a little while. They've already been out in the clearing for a while now. I'm sure they're getting tired." She shot Beetail another dark look, wishing he would get the hint and leave her alone. She didn't need him hovering around her kits, getting any ideas.

"Great!" Nettlepaw took the moss and began to shape it into a ball. He rolled it over to Larchkit, who tackled it. Petalkit jumped after him, her stubby tail high in the air. Patchkit sat back, watching his littermates.

"Go on and join them. It'll be fun, I promise." Mapleshade nudged him.

"I wan' sit here with you." Patchkit leaned against her leg. He placed his paw on top of hers. Mapleshade's heart clenched, her eyes glistening. He was so innocent.

"You're so precious to me," she whispered. She leaned down and pressed her nose into his fur, breathing in his scent. Patchkit raised his head, nuzzling her muzzle. A tiny purr shook his body.

Petalkit's sharp cry of pain immediately caught Mapleshade's attention. Larchkit sat on top of her again, biting her leg. Petalkit batted at him, wriggling on her back as she tried to push him off.

"What did I tell you about being gentle?" Mapleshade scolded him, pushing Larchkit off his sister. As the little tom gazed up at her, Mapleshade's breath caught in her throat. He looked so much like Appledusk. For a moment, it was almost as if she were looking directly at his face. Mapleshade scooped Larchkit up before any cat could notice.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Larchkit protested.

"I think it's time for your nap," Mapleshade lied, her voice muffled by his fur. As she walked, his body bumped against her chest. Petalkit and Patchkit scampered after her.

"You're taking them back to the nursery already?" Nettlepaw's ears drooped. "I guess I'll see you around later, then."

"Bye-bye!" Patchkit mewed.

Inside the nursery, Mapleshade placed Larchkit down in their nest. "Go to sleep. All of you."

"But I'm not sleepy right now. I was playing," Larchkit argued. Petalkit let out a mew of agreement. Before Mapleshade could say anything, the two of them began wrestling again. With a sigh, Mapleshade turned away from them. She couldn't stop thinking about what she'd realized out in the clearing.

How long would it be before some cat noticed? Would someone notice? No. No. That wasn't possible. She'd done nothing to convince any cat about her relationship with Appledusk. Everyone believed it when she said Birchface was their father. She was the deputy, and the others trusted her. They liked her. There was no reason for anyone to look at Larchkit and see Appledusk's face staring back at them. The only reason she could see it was because she knew the truth. Yes, that was it.

But the more Mapleshade tried to convince herself of that, the more uncertain she felt.

The brambles rustled. Mapleshade lifted her head, eyes bleary. Goldenmist scrabbled through the nursery entrance, a bundle of moss hanging from her jaws. Squirrelpaw and Harepaw followed, each carrying a wad of feathers and bracken in their jaws.

"Fresh-bedding delivery!" Harepaw announced, spitting the feathers out of her mouth.

"I hope this isn't a bad time. We were out hunting, and I thought you could use some new moss," Goldenmist explained.

"No, go ahead. Thank you." With a stretch, Mapleshade stood up. She nudged the kits to the side, watching as the apprentices worked. "I hope Goldenmist isn't working you too hard," she mewed, whiskers twitching.

"Only a little bit." Squirrelpaw rolled the old moss up with her paws, pushing it to the side.

"Do you see these feathers? They're from a huge sparrow I caught. It was like the size of a rabbit or something," Harepaw chattered.

Squirrelpaw rolled her eyes. "No, it wasn't. Don't lie."

"I'm not lying! I'll even bring it here for Mapleshade to see," Harepaw protested.

"You don't have to do all that. I believe you. Thank you for the feathers, though. This was really nice of you three to come here and do this. You didn't have to," Mapleshade said.

"You're welcome. But wait—shouldn't we have brought you something to eat, too? I'll go do that right now!" Harepaw jumped to her feet, but Squirrelpaw placed a paw on her tail, holding her in place.

"You're not going anywhere until this is done. Sit!"

"Gosh, you're so bossy," Harepaw grumbled.

Goldenmist chuckled. "Don't worry about bringing Mapleshade prey. I had something else in mind." Looking at Mapleshade, she asked, "Would you like to go hunting with me? It'd do you some good to get out of camp and stretch your legs again. I know it's been a while."

"I wouldn't mind. But what about them?" Mapleshade looked at her kits.

"We'll watch them," Squirrelpaw offered.

"You will? You don't mind?"

"No. Go ahead."

Mapleshade dipped her head to the two apprentices. Following Goldenmist, they headed up the ravine and out into the forest. Mapleshade paused, closing her eyes and drawing in the refreshing scent of the forest.

"It feels so good to be out here again. I don't remember the last time I left," she said.

"I knew it would do you good." Goldenmist tasted the air. She then gestured with her tail towards the left of them. The breeze was carrying the faint scent of mice towards them. Mapleshade had detected it at the same time Goldenmist had. Carefully, they crept through the undergrowth until both she-cats spotted the furry creature nibbling on a seed.

Goldenmist shot her a look. Mapleshade nodded.

Goldenmist leaped forward. She finished the mouse off in a second, carrying it back to Mapleshade. "There you go, deputy. Enjoy."

"You're so kind. Thank you." After finishing the last bite, Mapleshade licked her lips. "I'm hoping to catch something on my own now. I didn't realize how much I missed hunting until now."

"You're probably starving. You've got your paws full with those three. How are they doing, by the way? They looked strong enough, but I want to hear it from you," Goldenmist said.

Mapleshade stopped walking. Was Goldenmist trying to tell her something? Mapleshade glanced at her, trying to pick up any hint of hostility, but there was none. "They're fine. Why wouldn't they be?"

"Kits are so fragile, you know? I don't want anything bad to happen to them. I'm just glad it's greenleaf now, and we won't have to worry about greencough getting to them."

Mapleshade relaxed. "Me too," she mumbled.

"They're all I have left of my brother." Goldenmist paused. She looked up at the sky, staring through the gaps in the branches. She returned her attention to Mapleshade. "I promise I'll do whatever I can to help you take care of them. Oakstar, too. You have no idea how much they mean to him."

Mapleshade didn't respond.

Mapleshade paused, tasting the air. Checking over her shoulder, she made sure no cat was following them. When the coast was clear, she nudged Petalkit forward again.

It was a moonless night. Darkness enveloped the entire forest, making it hard to see, but Mapleshade was determined. She could barely make out her surroundings, but it was enough for her to know they were almost there.

As if on cue, Appledusk slipped through the undergrowth. His fur was plastered with mud, disguising his scent. Petalkit wrinkled her nose. "Ew! Who is this?"

Appledusk's throat rumbled. "My name is Appledusk," he announced. "You must be—"

"Appledusk?! You killed our father! Are you going to kill us next?" Petalkit shrieked, ducking behind Mapleshade. Mapleshade's heart lurched, and she did her best to force Petalkit out of hiding.

"Petalkit! That isn't true. Why would you say something like that?" Mapleshade reprimanded her. Her heart sank further into her stomach when she noticed Appledusk's crestfallen look, though he didn't say anything. "I don't know where she got that idea from. You know I'd never teach them something like that," Mapleshade quickly apologized.

Appledusk shrugged. "I know. They must've heard it from one of your Clanmates."

"Why are we here?" Larchkit wondered. The fur along his spine bristled, though he tried his best to mask his fear.

Mapleshade swallowed. Maybe she'd made a mistake bringing them here so soon. They were still so young. What if they didn't understand? What if they accidentally told another cat the truth? At the same time, she wanted to be open with them—to scream the truth at them that Appledusk was their real father. Now he stood face to face with them, the words caught in her throat.

"I don't think they're ready for this," Appledusk said.

"Appledusk…"

"No, I understand. We'll try again when they're a little older." Mapleshade's tail drooped. She could feel the rejection hidden beneath the forced, optimistic tone he used.

"You're leaving already?" Petalkit wondered.

Appledusk nodded. "I'll come to meet you again some day soon. Maybe then you can know the truth. But until then, I want you to know I'd never do anything to hurt you." He moved forward, trying to touch his nose to Patchkit's head, but the little tom swatted at his muzzle, hissing.

"Patchkit!" Mapleshade exclaimed. She forced him back with her paw. "I'm sorry. Did he hurt you?"

"No. I'll be fine." Despite his words, Mapleshade could faintly scent blood in the air.

As soon as Appledusk was gone, Mapleshade rounded on her kits. "I thought I told you to be on your best behavior when I took you out tonight!"

"I'm sorry," Larchkit apologized, ducking his head. "But isn't Appledusk that bad cat from RiverClan?"

"No. He's not. That's just a rumor. A mouse-brained rumor. Honestly, you can't believe everything you hear!"

Larchkit ducked further down, while Petalkit sat straight up, staring at Mapleshade head-on. "Why does everyone say he killed Birchface and Flowerpaw if he didn't do it?"

Mapleshade dug her claws into the ground. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to draw in a deep breath. She knew she shouldn't be so angry with them, but this wasn't how she wanted the first meeting with their father to go. If they'd already internalized the rumors floating through camp to this degree, how would they react when they learned the truth? "ThunderClan and RiverClan have been at odds with one another for a long time now. A lot of bad things have happened because of it, some of them on purpose and some of them accidents. Birchface's death was one of those accidents. And when someone dies, their loved ones can end up so hurt, it's easier for them to place the blame on anything they can find."

Petalkit nodded.

From there, Mapleshade took them back the way they'd come, wondering how she was going to tackle this conversation with them in the future. With a glance at the starless sky, she prayed they'd be able to hold this secret as close to their chest as she did.

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirty-two

A week had passed since Mapleshade’s failed attempt to introduce the kits to their father. The truth weighed on her shoulders like a badger, unrelenting and just as vicious. It made her withdraw into herself more. She couldn’t bring herself to allow them out into the clearing. What if another cat noticed something was wrong with them?

She shook her head. No. There was nothing wrong with them. They were beautiful, healthy kits. Just because they belonged to Appledusk didn’t make them any less valuable. ThunderClan would grow to appreciate them in time. And one day, like she hoped, she would be able to bring Appledusk to live with her in ThunderClan, and no cat would be able to say anything about it.

She straightened her spine, gazing out across the clearing. It was mostly empty. She’d already organized today’s patrols ahead of time, as well as tomorrow’s.

Turning back to the nursery, she used this moment to sneak the kits out of camp once more.

“Where are we going today?” Larchkit bellowed, bouncing through the forest with the sense of a dog.

“Shh!” Mapleshade stopped in her tracks. Larchkit crouched down, confused. Mapleshade looked around. When she saw the coast was clear, she sat back. “You must be quiet, all of you. I need to tell you something important. But you have to promise me you won’t speak a word about this to any cat—especially not Goldenmist or Oakstar.”

“A secret?” Larchkit perked up.

Petalkit and Patchkit exchanged looks. “Will we like this secret?” Petalkit asked.

“I think you will.” I hope.

“Then why can’t we tell any cat about it?” Larchkit wondered.

“Because it might be so good they’re jealous of it!” Petalkit replied, nodding her little head as if she’d figured it all out.

Mapleshade’s muscles rippled beneath her fur. “No, it isn’t like that. It’s something… Something the rest of the Clan might not understand right now.” She tried to keep her voice even as she continued, ignoring the way their crestfallen faces made her heart twist. “Birchface isn’t your real father. Appledusk is.”

At first, none of them reacted. Then Petalkit’s eyes narrowed, her head tilting to the side even more. Larchkit blinked. Patchkit crouched down.

“That’s why you brought us to meet him,” Petalkit finally murmured under her breath. “But why did you lie to us? Why are you lying to everyone?”

Mapleshade’s teeth clenched. “I wasn’t lying to you. I’m trying to protect you. The Clan would never accept you if they knew the truth, and that’s why you can’t tell any cat about this. But I want you to know your father and have a relationship with him.”

“But… he’s from RiverClan. How could he be our father?” Larchkit exclaimed.

Mapleshade shushed him again with a growl. “Because I love him, that’s how. Just because two cats come from different Clans doesn’t mean they can’t fall in love.”

“But the warrior code—”

“You don’t know anything about the warrior code,” Mapleshade snapped. Larchkit shrank down just like Patchkit. Mapleshade took a step back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you.” She nuzzled him. “But you have no idea how hard all of this is on me. This is for your own safety. So if any cat asks, Birchface is your father.”

“They would hate us if they knew the truth, wouldn’t they?” Mapleshade’s throat tightened as Petalkit spoke. The little she-kit sat there, tail curled over her paws as she studied Mapleshade’s pained expression.

“Yes.”

Petalkit looked to the ground.

“That’s not fair,” Larchkit said. “We haven’t done anything wrong!”

“I know you haven’t, but some cats are set in their ways. It won’t be like this forever, though. When I’m leader of ThunderClan, everything will change. You won’t have to worry about being judged for who your father is.”

“We won’t?” Patchkit asked.

“No. I’ll change everything. I promise.”

From there, she continued to lead them through the forest. Skirting alongside the river, she took them past ThunderClan’s scent markers until she was at the edge of the Twoleg’s Place. Now sandwiched between the wall of a Twoleg garden and the riverbank, she crouched into the reeds.

The kittens flopped to the ground next to her, exhausted. They were still so young. They’d never been this far from camp before.

“Why’d we have to walk so far? I feel like my paws are going to fall off any second now,” Larchkit complained.

Patchkit licked his sore paw. “I think I’m bleeding,” he mewed.

“Do you want to come dip your paws in the water? They might make them feel better,” Mapleshade suggested. Carefully, she led them to the water’s edge. It was shallow enough here that she didn’t have to worry about them getting hurt.

Larchkit dipped his feet into the water with no hesitation. He waded forward until the current brushed against his belly fur. To Mapleshade’s surprise, Patchkit splashed after him.

“It’s cold,” Petalkit complained.

“You’ll get used to it in time.” A splash on the opposite riverbank alerted Mapleshade. She already knew who it was from the sound of his voice.

Appledusk swam across the river with ease. He touched noses with Mapleshade, then took a seat in the water next to Larchkit. Larchkit ducked away at first, eyeing Appledusk suspiciously, though he didn’t say anything. Patchkit splashed back to shore, ducking behind Mapleshade.

“I see they still haven’t warmed up to me,” Appledusk sighed.

“They know the truth now. I told them on the way here,” Mapleshade told him.

“Are you really our father?” Petalkit asked.

Appledusk nodded. “I am. How do you feel about that?”

Petalkit didn’t say anything.

Appledusk coughed. “Er… in any case, I’m glad I was able to meet you three. Again. I wish I could be there with you all the time, but I can’t. Just know I’m proud of you. You have the markings of a RiverClan warrior, that’s for sure.”

“We’re ThunderClan cats, not RiverClan,” Larchkit declared.

“You’re both, Larchkit. You don’t have to pick one side over the other. There’s nothing wrong with embracing both sides of your identity,” Mapleshade corrected him. “Just look at how well you’ve taken to the water.”

Larchkit looked down at his wet legs. A look of irritation flashed across his face. “But you said they’d never accept us if we knew the truth, and that’s why we have to lie.”

“For now. But one day—”

“It’s okay. If they’re not ready to accept me, I understand,” Appledusk interrupted her.

“It’s not okay. You’re their father.” Mapleshade narrowed her eyes at him. “They need to know who you are and know that they don’t need to be ashamed of you. Of us.”

Appledusk ignored her. Standing to his paws, he walked a few tail-lengths away. Stopping at a clump of reeds jutting into the water, he beckoned the kits to follow him. At first, none of them moved. Then, ever so slowly, Larchkit crept after him, his curiosity getting the better of him. He paused at Appledusk’s side. Lowering his head, he stared at the tiny moving shapes in the water as they darted around. “What are those?” Larchkit wrinkled his nose.

“Minnows. Want me to show you how to catch them?” When Larchkit nodded, Appledusk got into position. When it was time, his paw darted into the water, scooping up several of the tiny fish in his claws. He pulled them up out of the water, killing them swiftly.  Appledusk carried the minnows over to the grass. He dropped them on the ground. His whiskers twitched in amusement as Larchkit and Patchkit sniffed at the prey. Hesitantly, Patchkit took a bite.

“It’s good,” he announced.

Petalkit shouldered her way in between her brothers. “I want to try some, too.”

“Hey, I was here first!” Larchkit complained.

“There’s plenty to go around,” Appledusk reminded them.

Mapleshade watched them, a purr rising in her throat. Sitting next to Appledusk, she leaned against him. “I’m glad we could do this.”

“So am I.”

“We’ll have to figure out a better meeting spot than this, though. They’re too little to come all this way. I don’t think I’ll ever hear the end of it when we get back to camp.”

“I told you we could meet at Fourtrees like we used to,” Appledusk said.

Mapleshade pulled back, giving him a look. “And risk getting caught? It’s too dangerous.”

Appledusk let out a heavy sigh. He looked past her, watching as the kits tumbled through the reeds. A moment later, a look of joy washed over his face as Larchkit bounded forward, a minnow dangling from his jaws.

“You’re a natural. Good job,” Appledusk praised.

Larchkit puffed his chest out. A few seconds later, Patchkit walked up, holding his own minnow.

“You caught one, too? My, you’re already shaping up to be the perfect hunters. Perhaps you should come to live with me when you get older.”

Larchkit gave Appledusk another fierce look. “I already told you, we’re ThunderClan cats, not RiverClan.” He pushed the minnow away with his paw, completely uninterested in his catch. Looking at Mapleshade, he asked, “Can we go home now?”

Mapleshade’s ears flattened against her skull. “What’s wrong, Larchkit? You’re in a bad mood again. Why?”

Larchkit hunched his shoulders. “I don’t know how to feel about all of this… About him.” He shot Appledusk a look. “I feel confused.”

“You don’t have to feel confused. I’m not actually asking you to come live in RiverClan with me. I was just…” Appledusk sighed again. “I’m just trying to connect with you three. I wish more than anything I could be there with you every day watching you grow up, but I can’t. This is the best I can do right now.”

Petalkit, who had come to sit between her brothers, studied her father’s expression. Standing to her paws once more, she walked over and touched her little nose to Appledusk’s. Patchkit copied her a second later, while Larchkit hung back. Finally, the little brown tom padded forward, brushing against Appledusk’s side.

Mapleshade’s throat tightened. She leaned against Appledusk’s other side. Closing her eyes, she sent a silent prayer to StarClan begging them to allow this moment to continue forever.

Mapleshade’s ear twitched as she tried to block out the shrill cicada cries filling the air. The air was still, leaving every shriveled leaf to hang limply from the branches. Tasting the air, she tried to pick up the scent of water nearby, but all of the nearby creek beds had dried up long ago. Underpaw, the ground was dried and cracked.

Seedpelt, Doefeather, and Mumblepaw had collapsed into the shade. They’d been out since before dawn trying to hunt before the heat of the day overtook the forest, but it seemed the forest had other plans in mind. In the end, their hunt was largely fruitless, with only Mumblepaw managing to snag a scrawny sparrow.

“We need rain badly,” Doefeather panted.

Seedpelt’s tail flicked. “This greenleaf is hotter than any I can remember.”

“We should have the apprentices carry moss to the river to bring water back for the rest of the Clan,” Mapleshade decided. She looked at Mumblepaw. “Do you think you’re up for that?”

“’Course I am,” he replied.

“Good. When we get back to camp, you can take a rest, and then I want you to ask Ravenwing for some extra moss. If he doesn’t have any—”

“Rookpaw and I know a place where we can get some moss,” Mumblepaw meowed.

Mapleshade nodded. “Perfect, then.” She looked up at the sky, narrowing her eyes at the sun’s harsh rays as they poked through the overhead canopy. Standing up, she shook the sand from her pelt. “Let’s head back to camp. Maybe we’ll find some more prey on the way back, but if not, we’ll have to worry about it later.”

Doefeather fell into step alongside Mapleshade as they walked back to camp. “I wonder if the other patrols are faring any better,” she remarked.

“I hope so. StarClan knows the last thing we need is a famine on top of this drought. To think it hasn’t rained since—”

Memories of Birchface and Flowerpaw being tossed about by the waves before going under came back to Mapleshade. She stood there, eyes dilated, heart pounding. The world around her seemed to sway.

“Mapleshade?” Doefeather’s eyes widened.

Mapleshade swallowed. “W-We need the rain. That’s all.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. The heat’s just getting to me. Don’t worry about me.” Mapleshade noticed Seedpelt and Mumblepaw were staring at her as well. Mapleshade shook out her pelt. “My fur’s longer than yours, remember?”

Back at camp, Mapleshade headed for a secluded corner of the clearing. Settling into the shade, she lapped at her pelt. It wasn’t long before one of the other patrols—made up of Whitefoot, Nettlepaw, and Deerdapple—walked into camp. Each of them held prey in their jaws, though it wasn’t much.

“Not having much luck?” Mapleshade called out.

Whitefoot shook her head. “Afraid not. We tried our best. It’s just too hot out there.”

“I know. My patrol didn’t have much luck, either.”

“I’m thinking about taking Nettlepaw out again this evening once it cools off a little,” Deerdapple said. “Maybe I’ll see if the other mentors want to do the same.”

“I already asked Mumblepaw to take some of the apprentices down to the river to bring back water,” Mapleshade told her.

“Oh, that’s good thinking. Beetail could use a good drink. His back legs have been bothering him for the last few days. I don’t think he’s been getting enough to drink lately.”

Mapleshade tuned out of their conversation. Closing her eyes, she ended up taking a quick nap. When she woke up, the sun had shifted farther into the sky, casting longer shadows across the forest. With a stretch, she bounded over to the nursery only to find it empty.

At first, her heart dropped into her stomach. Padding to the back of the den, she picked up the kits’ faint scent lingering in the air. It was fresh. They must’ve just recently left camp by themselves. But why? They knew better than that!

Trying her best to smooth the fur along her spine, Mapleshade backtracked out of the den. She glanced around the clearing to make sure no cat was watching before disappearing out the back of the den.

Breaking into a run, she followed the kits’ scent. They were heading in the direction of the river.

They’d only made it halfway before Mapleshade caught up with them. Overtaking their pace, she turned to face them. She stared them down, eyes narrowed, ears flattened to her head as she growled, “What in the name of StarClan do you think you’re doing? You’re not supposed to leave camp by yourselves!”

“We’re going to RiverClan to check on Appledusk,” Larchkit meowed as though it was the simplest thing in the world.

“What? You can’t do that, Larchkit. Honestly, what are you thinking?” Mapleshade took a step back, eyes wide in disbelief.

“We overheard Stormwhisker say there’s a ‘drought’ and that the river is getting low. We thought it would be nice to hunt for Appledusk so he doesn’t starve in RiverClan,” Petalkit explained.

Mapleshade sat down. Drawing in a deep breath, she tried her best to stay calm. “Look, that’s very sweet of you, but you don’t need to do that. You’re too little. All you need to worry about is staying in camp and staying safe. Let RiverClan worry about themselves.”

Each of the kits looked crestfallen.

“We were just trying to help…” Larchkit mumbled.

“I know you were. And that was very noble of you. But also incredibly reckless. How did you expect to make it across the river?”

“Appledusk taught us the other day,” Patchkit pointed out.

“You were in shallow water. That’s not the same thing as swimming across the entire river. Don’t ever think about trying something like this again. Do you understand me?”

“Yes. I’m sorry for sneaking out,” Petalkit apologized. Larchkit and Patchkit let out apologies of their own.

“We won’t do it again,” Patchkit promised.

“Good. Now come on.” Mapleshade began walking the way they’d come. Dried, dead grass crunched under their paws.

Suddenly, Petalkit rushed forward. She bunched her muscles, leaping onto a fallen log. The rotting wood gave way under her weight, causing her to crash through the top, landing in the middle of the hollow log.

Mapleshade darted forward. Standing on her back legs, she placed the front ones against the side of the log and peered down into the hole. “Petalkit?” she called out.

The sound of scrabbling paws, followed by several frantic squeaks, filled the air. Petalkit’s head popped back up out of the hole, a dead mouse dangling from her jaws.

Mapleshade planted all four paws back on the ground. Petalkit scrambled out of the log. She shook scraps of wood from her pelt before dropping the mouse at Mapleshade’s paws.

“Are you hurt at all?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Any splinters?”

Petalkit looked at her paw pads. At first, she looked as though she wanted to say no until she went to stand on her front paw. Her face twisted into a grimace. “Er… yeah. I can feel one in my toe.”

Mapleshade tried to get it out, but it was buried too deeply. “We’ll see Ravenwing about it as soon as we get back. Climb onto my back.” She leaned down, allowing Petalkit to climb onto her.

Larchkit bunched his muscles and leaped onto Mapleshade’s hips, pulling her down. “Badger ride!” he purred.

Mapleshade twisted, trying to shake him off. “Larchkit—you’re too heavy!”

Larchkit tumbled off. To Mapleshade’s relief, he took it in stride. Tossing Petalkit’s mouse over to Patchkit, he said to his sister, “Too bad about the splinter, but that was good luck finding that mouse.”

“It practically ran right into my paws,” Petalkit announced proudly.

“I wish I could catch a mouse,” Patchkit mewed.

“You’ll have plenty of time to hunt once you’re apprenticed.”

“But that’s so far away. I want to be an apprentice now,” Larchkit said.

“You can’t be an apprentice now. We’re only a moon-and-a-half old. Oakstar will get in trouble if he apprentices us now,” Petalkit pointed out.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. No need to remind me.” Larchkit rolled his eyes.

Bouncing down the ravine, Mapleshade ushered the three little ones through the gorse tunnel. As she carried Petalkit over to Ravenwing’s den, they happened to pass by Oakstar.

“What’s this?” he questioned, studying Petalkit’s catch.

“I caught it myself! It was hiding inside a fallen log. I fell through the top, and bam! It jumped right into my claws.” Petalkit’s eyes shone as she recalled the hunt.

Oakstar’s throat rumbled. “What a mighty hunter you’re shaping up to be.” He nuzzled her cheek. Looking at Patchkit and Larchkit, he added, “I know the two of you aren’t far behind.”

“We caught some minnows the other day,” Larchkit announced.

Mapleshade’s eyes widened.

Oakstar sat back. He tilted his head, blinking. “You did?” He looked to Mapleshade as he asked, “What were they doing down by the river?”

Mapleshade’s muscles tensed, though to her relief her fur remained smooth, not a hair out of place. Lifting her muzzle, she coolly replied, “I wasn’t paying attention when I took them out, and we ended up walking all the way to the river. Since it was so hot, we took a break near the water.”

Oakstar narrowed his eyes. “You shouldn’t take them to the river. What if something happens to them?”

“The water is way down. And I was with them. Anyways, Petalkit has a splinter in her paw. I need to go see Ravenwing.” Mapleshade waved her tail at him and marched off, trying to ignore the way Oakstar’s stare burned into her skin.

The dried, brittle ferns surrounding the medicine cat’s den rustled as Rookpaw and Mumblepaw walked out, moss dangling from their jaws. Mapleshade nodded to them, oblivious to the strange look Ravenwing gave her as he stared past the apprentices' shoulders from the shadows of his den.

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirty-three

Large white clouds, tinged with flecks of orange and gray, billowed in the distance over Highstones as the sun began to set over the forest. They rolled through the sky, headed in the direction of the forest as a gentle breeze rustled the dry undergrowth.

Mapleshade could taste rain, though she didn’t keep her hopes up. The promise of rain had come and gone over the last two days without a single drop of it falling. She knew it wouldn’t be long, though. The clouds were growing larger with every passing day.

Her paws carried her through the brittle undergrowth towards the direction of Sunningrocks. Her kits trotted after her, chatting among themselves. She was taking them to see Appledusk again. She’d been careful to organize all of the patrols away from this part of the forest.

Climbing onto the rocks, she saw Appledusk tucked into one of the crevices. He looked up at her, his expression softening. He gave a quick stretch before coming to meet her.

“I don’t have long,” Mapleshade said.

“I know. That’s fine with me.” Appledusk leaned down to nuzzle the kits. Larchkit launched himself onto Appledusk’s back, while Patchkit played with his tail.

“Whoa, I’m being attacked!” Appledusk carefully flopped onto the ground, rolling onto his back. The kits continued to jump on him, battering him with their little paws. With sheathed claws, Appledusk gently swatted them back. Petalkit leaped onto his stomach, causing Appledusk to let out a gasp. “Okay, that’s—Patchkit, you’re—ouch! I’m not invincible over here, you know? Ouch!”

“That’s enough,” Mapleshade told them.

Appledusk rolled onto his stomach. He then stood up, shaking dust from his pelt. He gave his shoulder an embarrassed lick, gazing down at the three kits. “You’re getting stronger every day, that’s for sure.” Lapping at his tail, he added, “I think I’m going to be sore for the next few days.”

“I’m sorry,” Larchkit apologized.

Appledusk placed a paw on top of Larchkit's head and rubbed it. “It’s okay.”

Suddenly, Petalkit perked up. “Oh, I forgot to tell you about the mouse I caught the other day. It jumped right into my paws!”

“You did? Good job.”

Petalkit puffed her chest out.

“I’m going to be a hunter, too. I told Oakstar about the minnows I caught, but he didn’t seem very happy about it…” Larchkit told him sadly.

Appledusk stiffened. He looked at Mapleshade. “What did Oakstar say?”

Mapleshade avoided his gaze. “All he said was that I didn’t need to bring them to the river. But don’t worry, I made up an excuse. He doesn’t know anything. It’s none of his business where I take our kits.”

“You need to be careful.”

“I am careful, Appledusk,” Mapleshade growled.

“We’ll be more careful from now on, too,” Patchkit meowed.

“I just wish we didn’t have to sneak around like this all the time… I wish you could come to live with us in ThunderClan,” Petalkit said.

Appledusk didn’t say anything for a long time. With a sigh, he stared towards the river. “I wish a lot of things. But this is the way things are right now.”

“It won’t be like this forever. I told you what I said, right? We’ll be together one day.”

Appledusk’s ears flattened against his head. He turned towards her, his eyes narrowed. “Even if that happened, do you think your Clanmates would accept me, Mapleshade? It doesn’t matter if you’re the leader or not. They hate me.”

“That’s not true. Only Goldenmist and Oakstar—”

“They’re the only ones who are vocal about it. But even if the rest of your Clanmates don’t believe I killed Birchface, I’m still a RiverClan warrior at the end of the day. The enemy. That’s all I’ll ever be.”

“You’re not my enemy,” Patchkit said.

Appledusk softened.

“Things change every day, Appledusk,” Mapleshade began. She opened her mouth to say something more, but the words were caught in her throat. She wasn’t sure what else she could tell him that she hadn’t said before. The certainty and hurt in his words as he spoke now made her heart ache. It was as if he’d already given up on the possibility of them having a future together where they didn’t have to hide their love.

Several fat raindrops began to fall, speckling the rocks. Mapleshade stood up, shaking out her pelt. “I should probably get going.”

Appledusk looked up at the sky. The clouds were directly overhead now, larger and darker than they were before. “It looks like it’s about to storm.”

Mapleshade nudged the kits back up the slope towards the forest. The rain had already come to a stop. “I doubt it. It’s looked like this for the last few days. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s all we get before the clouds blow over.”

Appledusk started towards the river. He looked over his shoulder at her, then back at the clouds. “You’re probably right. I just hope it rains soon.”

Mapleshade frowned. “Is RiverClan having problems?”

“No, not yet. The water’s gotten pretty low along the WindClan border, but this part of the forest is fine. For now, anyway. Nothing that we need to worry about yet.”

“Poor WindClan. I didn’t even think about what this heat has been like for them. They’re probably taking the brunt of it, being out in the open like they are.”

“I’m surprised they haven’t tried stealing our fish yet,” Appledusk said.

“Is Darkstar worried about it?”

Appledusk shook his head. “No.”

The rain began to fall again. Mapleshade shrank back as a raindrop landed on her nose. She wrinkled her face, shaking her head.

Appledusk let out an amused purr from down below. “You okay?”

“I’m okay!” Patchkit announced. That only caused Appledusk’s amusement to grow.

With a soft expression, he padded back to them. Leaning down, he gave each of them a lick on the top of their heads. He then licked Mapleshade’s nose. As she turned her head away, Appledusk licked her cheek instead. “I’ll see you later.”

Mapleshade nodded. “Maybe tomorrow, or the day after that. I love you.”

“Alright. I love you, too!” Appledusk waved his tail to them and trotted back to the river. Mapleshade didn’t stick around to watch him go. The rain was falling faster now. Ushering her kits into the safety of the undergrowth, she led them back to camp.

Just as she predicted, the rain stopped again. Faint beams of sunlight filtered through gaps in the clouds, shining down on the forest. “I knew it wasn’t going to rain,” she muttered to herself. “But now the air is humid. Great.”

Deciding to hunt, she tucked the kits into the safety of a bush. It wasn’t long before she came across a squirrel.

Prey now in hand, she continued home. She watched as the kits raced down the rocky ravine. They skidded to a halt in front of the gorse tunnel, looking up at her as they waited for her to catch up.

“You’re so slow,” Larchkit teased.

“I am not. Maybe one day I’ll have to race you, and you’ll see—” Mapleshade paused. The camp was eerily quiet.

Mapleshade squeezed through the gorse tunnel. Oakstar and Ravenwing sat atop the Highrock, while the rest of her Clanmates were gathered below. Every head turned to look at her. The expressions on their faces made her stomach drop. Some had wide-eyed, confused looks on their faces, while others glared.

Hazelheart was the first to move. She pushed her way through the crowd, eyes glistening. “Tell me it’s not true,” she begged, her voice so low Mapleshade could barely hear.

“What’s not true?” Mapleshade looked back and forth between Hazelheart and Oakstar. “What’s going on?”

“Where have you been?” Oakstar demanded. His voice dripped with venom, his gaze just as sickening.

“I took the kits on a walk and then went hunting.” Mapleshade stood unflinching.

The kits squeezed through the gorse tunnel after her. Oblivious to the tension in the air, they scampered forward, heading for the fresh-kill pile. Suddenly, Goldenmist lunged forward, stopping them in their tracks. She bared her teeth at them, hissing at them to get back.

Patchkit scrambled backwards, eyes wide.

Mapleshade darted forward, coming to stand in front of her kits. They crawled under her legs. She could feel Petalkit shaking. “What did you do that for?” Mapleshade demanded. She ignored the angry hisses that echoed throughout the crowd, directed at her.

“They don’t belong here, and neither do you!” Goldenmist shouted.

Mapleshade’s blood ran cold. Still, she held her ground, pretending to be oblivious. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Tell me the truth, Mapleshade,” Oakstar called out again. “Tell me where you were.”

“I told you: I took the kits on a walk.”

“Near the river, was it?” Goldenmist sneered.

Mapleshade’s claws flexed. Her Clanmates were growing angrier by the second. Towards the back of the crowd, she heard some cat spit out an insult, though she couldn’t make out who it was. “Why are you all acting like this?” she shouted. Her voice quivered on the last word. Her kits shifted beneath her, growing more nervous.

“Don’t play dumb!” Goldenmist spat. “We know the truth!”

Mapleshade narrowed her eyes. “The truth?” she echoed. “And what might that be?”

Oakstar leaped down from the Highrock. He pushed his way through the crowd, shoulders stiff, tail lashing. “You lied,” he said. “You’ve brought shame into this Clan with these half-Clan abominations. You’ve stained my son’s memory.”

Mapleshade’s breath caught in her throat. No. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening. She’d been so careful. She’d done everything to make sure no cat knew, and now…

“Did you think we wouldn’t find out?” Goldenmist snarled. “You let us believe—I believed—that Birchface was the father. And all along, they’re Appledusk’s?” For a second, the fiery gleam in her eyes extinguished, replaced by a look of sheer hopelessness. “He killed my brother. How could you?”

“No, it isn’t like that,” Mapleshade tried.

“Don’t lie to us,” Hazelheart said. “Tell us the truth, Mapleshade. Is Appledusk the father of your kits?”

Mapleshade shook her head. “No. They’re Birchface’s kits. I would never…!”

“Ravenwing told us what he saw,” Seedpelt commented.

Mapleshade swallowed. She looked up at Ravenwing. He was still sitting atop the Highrock, his head hung, avoiding her gaze. Mapleshade wasn’t sure if it was out of guilt or disgust. “What did you say to them?” she yelled.

Ravenwing didn’t respond.

Mapleshade whipped her head back towards the rest of her Clanmates. Beetail, Doefeather, and Bloomheart glared at her. Seedpelt turned away. Thrushtalon, Deerdapple, and Sweetbriar looked hurt, as if they couldn’t believe what they’d heard. Nettlepaw crouched, staring at Mapleshade with round eyes.

Mapleshade looked for Dawnfeather. Her sister was tucked against Thrushtalon’s side, refusing to look at Mapleshade. When she finally lifted her head, the look on her face made Mapleshade’s heart twist. Her gaze was brief and ice-cold, as if Mapleshade were an enemy.

“Dawnfeather, you believe me, don’t you?” Mapleshade asked.

“I don’t know who you are. You’re not the sister I remember.” Dawnfeather’s words were tight. Without saying another word, she broke apart from Thrushtalon and walked back to the warriors' den.

“Thrushtalon, what about you?” Mapleshade tried.

Thrushtalon shook his head. “I don’t know what to think.” He followed Dawnfeather.

Mapleshade’s jaw dropped as she watched them go. “You’re supposed to be my sister. Are you really going to turn your back on me like this?!” she shouted.

“You turned your back on us first when you lied to us,” Beetail growled. “How are we supposed to trust a deputy who deceives her entire Clan? I thought you were better than that.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. I’ve given everything I have to ThunderClan since the day I started my training.” Mapleshade turned to look at Bloomheart. “You remember that, don’t you?”

“I can’t believe you’ve done this. I’m so disappointed in you,” was all he said.

Mapleshade stood still. She waited for some cat to come to her defense, but no one did. By now, her nerves were beginning to falter. She could feel her fur bristling along her spine. Petalkit, Patchkit, and Larchkit pressed closer together, their tiny bodies shaking.

“Why is everyone mad at us?” Patchkit whimpered.

“I never meant to hurt any cat. You have to believe that.” Mapleshade’s voice faltered.

Goldenmist launched herself at Mapleshade, knocking her to the ground. Petalkit let out a shriek as the two she-cats landed on top of her. Mapleshade’s head snapped to the side as Goldenmist clawed the side of her cheek. Mapleshade hissed, her skin burning. With a mighty kick, she pushed Goldenmist off.

Goldenmist landed hard, gasping. Scrambling to her paws, she leaped at Mapleshade again, but Mapleshade was faster. She met Goldenmist halfway, slamming her back to the ground. Goldenmist writhed beneath her before landing a hard bite to Mapleshade’s foreleg.

Oakstar and Graytuft rushed forward. Oakstar hauled Mapleshade off of Goldenmist by her scruff.

“Leave, now!” he bellowed, standing over Mapleshade.

Mapleshade crouched on the ground, ears back, tail lashing. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Oakstar clawed her across the face. Mapleshade’s head snapped back from the force. He was stronger than Goldenmist. Mapleshade sat there, stunned. Blinking, she tried to gather her bearings. Once the shock had died down, a blaze of fury coursed through her veins. She glared up at Oakstar.

“After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?” Mapleshade snarled.

“You brought this onto yourself,” Oakstar seethed. He took a step over her. “Leave now, before I kill you and your abominations.”

“No!” Hazelheart shouted. She took a protective step over Mapleshade, staring Oakstar down.

“Go back to your nest,” Oakstar ordered.

“Be angry at Mapleshade if you must, but you can’t kill her. Please don’t,” Hazelheart begged.

Mapleshade crawled out from underneath Hazelheart’s protective stance. She bounded back to her kits. They were clumped together several fox-lengths away. Mapleshade’s eyes glistened as she took in their scared expressions. “It’s going to be okay,” she breathed, burying her nose into Patchkit’s fur.

“Are they really going to kill us?” Larchkit wailed.

“No. I’ll never let any cat hurt you.” Lifting her head, Mapleshade looked over her shoulder at Oakstar. Her eyes narrowed. Unsheathing her claws, she took a step towards him.

“I don’t want you here. You’re not welcome. Be grateful I’m giving you the chance to leave with your life. Go now, before I change my mind,” he said.

“What about the kits?” Deerdapple called out.

A growl rose in Mapleshade’s throat. “If you think I’m leaving them—”

“Exile them! ThunderClan doesn’t need those…creatures!” Goldenmist hissed.

“They’re not creatures. They didn’t have anything to do with this,” Crowfrost spoke up. She came to stand next to Mapleshade. Her eyes were round and confused, though she tried her best to stay calm.

“RiverClan blood runs through their veins. They’re worse than creatures,” Goldenmist insisted. Looking to her father, she said, “I’ll do the honors of killing them if—”

Oakstar stopped her. “No. I’m going to be generous today. Take your kits and leave. But if you’re caught on ThunderClan’s territory after today, I give any patrol permission to do what they must.”

“He can’t be serious,” Stormwhisker muttered.

Mumblepaw nodded in agreement. “He’s gone mad.”

“I understand being angry, but exiling kits?” Mistpelt whispered.

Cherrypetal padded forward. “You don’t have to exile them, Oakstar. I’ll take Mapleshade’s kits in.”

“No! I will not allow these RiverClan kits to grow up in my Clan. That is final!” Oakstar roared. His broad head turned from side to side, glaring down at his warriors. Looking back at Mapleshade, he growled, “Get out of my sight, and don’t come back!”

Mapleshade lifted her chin. “Fine. But you’ll regret this.”

“Get out!” Goldenmist spat.

Mapleshade reached out, raking her claws across Goldenmist’s face. Goldenmist twisted, eyes scrunched up as blood ran down her face. Blinking, she glared at Mapleshade through one eye. Mapleshade tensed, anticipating Goldenmist’s attack, though to her surprise, the golden-furred she-cat stalked away.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.” Mapleshade nudged her kits back to the gorse tunnel. Before she left, she grabbed the squirrel she had caught earlier and began the climb up the ravine.

The sky had darkened again, the rain clouds from earlier moving back in. A few raindrops fell once more.

“Why is this happening to us?” Larchkit wondered. “Why don’t they like us anymore?”

“Because they’re mouse-brained!” Mapleshade snapped.

“Where are we going to go now?” Petalkit asked.

Mapleshade didn’t reply. She wasn’t quite sure what she was going to do now. If it weren’t for the kits, she would’ve gone back to give Oakstar a piece of her mind. Who did he think he was, exiling her like this? Calling her kits abominations? They were nothing of the sort! How could he have gone from loving them to looking down at them with disgust over something Ravenwing had told him?

In that moment, Mapleshade cursed herself for not figuring out what Ravenwing had said. Had he caught her while she was out with Appledusk, or was it something else? He’d always been a rude pain in the tail, as far as Mapleshade was concerned, so she wasn’t too surprised he’d done something to create all of this mess. Still, the thought made her furious. Who was he to involve himself in her business? So what if she was in love with Appledusk? So what if the kits were his and not Birchface’s? She’d still worked hard. She’d given everything she could to her Clan. And this was how they all repaid her. Exiling her. Sneering at her. Calling her kits abominations. Disgusting. Creatures.

It was Patchkit’s little voice that shook Mapleshade out of the whirlwind of fury swirling around inside her brain. “I’m scared.”

Mapleshade stopped. “Don’t be. We’ll figure it all out.”

By now, the rain was falling harder. It drummed against the parched forest floor, forming into large puddles. Wind whipped through the trees, rattling the branches overhead. Gritting her teeth, Mapleshade guided her kits to shelter beneath a juniper tree. With every gust of wind, Mapleshade was battered with a spray of rain as the branches lifted and swayed. She tried to tuck her kits closer to the trunk of the tree, but it did little to protect them. The storm was too strong.

Dropping the soaked squirrel in front of them, she grumbled, “You might as well eat this.”

“I’m all wet. And cold,” Patchkit complained.

“Me too,” Petalkit sighed.

“I know that! But there’s nothing I can do about it right now, so just eat!” She didn’t mean to raise her voice at them, but her anger was boiling over now. Stupid ThunderClan. Stupid Oakstar. What was wrong with them all to do this to her and her innocent kits, especially at a time like this? Didn’t they have compassion?

“Are we going to live with Appledusk now?” Larchkit asked, swallowing a bite of squirrel.

Appledusk. Mapleshade straightened up. In all her rage, she hadn’t even thought about taking the kits to RiverClan. It was a good idea, she realized, if Darkstar would take her in. Perhaps she could bargain with Darkstar. Maybe if she exposed all of ThunderClan’s secrets, Darkstar would show mercy on her and allow her to stay. If not, perhaps she’d be able to talk Appledusk into leaving with her. They’d head north, past Highstones, away from the Clans—

Lightning cracked overhead, illuminating several shapes that had gathered outside the juniper tree. Their fur was plastered to their bodies, their eyes narrowed. At the front of the group was Goldenmist.

Mapleshade tensed. She unsheathed her claws. “What are you doing here?” she growled.

“You were supposed to leave ThunderClan’s territory. I’m making sure of that,” Goldenmist sneered. She took a step forward.

Mapleshade blocked her. “We are leaving once this storm passes.”

“You’ll leave now. You’re not welcome here.” Goldenmist pushed her way forward. She raised an unsheathed claw, only to flinch as another crack of lightning crossed the sky.

Squirrelpaw’s ears flattened to her head. “I think we should go back to camp,” she whispered.

“We’re not going back to camp. Mapleshade can’t get away with this!” Goldenmist shouted. She raised her paw again, swiping at Mapleshade.

Mapleshade dodged to the side. Gritting her teeth, she raked her claws down Goldenmist’s flank. Goldenmist turned, batting Mapleshade’s ears. The two she-cats fell to the wet ground, twisting and writhing as they fought. Suddenly, Goldenmist pulled away with a shriek.

Mapleshade lifted her head, a purr rising in her throat as she spotted Patchkit and Larchkit clinging to Goldenmist’s haunches. Patchkit held Goldenmist’s tail firmly in his teeth. Goldenmist stood up. She shook the kits away from her as hard as she could, sending them flying. Patchkit landed with a harsh thud against the trunk of the tree.

Mapleshade was at his side at once. “Are you okay?”

Patchkit groaned.

Mapleshade turned her head, glaring at Goldenmist. “What is wrong with you?”

“You lied to me!” Goldenmist shrieked. “I thought you were my friend, but this whole time you’ve been giving yourself to the cat who murdered my brother.”

Mapleshade lunged forward, hooking her claws into Goldenmist’s shoulders. She shoved her to the ground, kicking and screeching. “Appledusk didn’t kill Birchface. He drowned because he was a mouse-brain who started a battle during the middle of a thunderstorm, just like you have!” She bit down on Goldenmist’s ear, screwing up her eyes as the coppery tang of blood hit her tongue.

Goldenmist ripped away. Chest heaving, she glared at the rest of her patrol. “Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to help me?”

“Just let her go. She’s not worth it,” Seedpelt grumbled.

Goldenmist’s tail whipped furiously. She then took a step backward. “Fine. Let’s go. But don’t think this is over. If I catch you again, I’ll kill you.”

“It’s three against one, and you still lost,” Mapleshade retorted.

Goldenmist hissed. Spinning around, she marched the way she’d come, Squirrelpaw and Seedpelt trailing behind her.

With a sigh, Mapleshade collapsed to the ground. Resting her head on her forelegs, she watched as the rain continued to fall. Petalkit pressed against her side.

“Are you hurt?” she whispered.

“Just a few scratches.”

Petalkit frowned. “No. I mean… inside.” She poked Mapleshade’s chest.

Mapleshade’s eyes glistened. She looked away, not wanting the kits to see her like this. They were shaken enough as it was. “I’ll be all right. Don’t worry about me.” Her throat tightened as she forced the words out, each one cracking towards the end.

As soon as the rain had died down a bit, Mapleshade nudged the kits out from the juniper tree. Fallen branches littered the muddy ground. She had to skirt around several large, deep gullies, washed out as a result of the rain.

Mapleshade paused. Poking her head out from the undergrowth, she stared down the slope towards the river. The water covered the shoreline, swallowing large portions of Sunningrocks. The swift, brown current carried swaths of debris with it.

“Mouse-dung. We can’t cross here,” she muttered to herself.

“What are we going to do now?” Larchkit asked.

“We’ll try the Twoleg bridge. If that doesn’t work, we’ll have to wait for the water to go down.”

Sighing, Mapleshade headed upriver. Every so often, she glanced through the treeline, praying to StarClan for a spot to cross, but there was none. Even the stepping stones had been caught up in debris. She contemplated taking a chance and crossing here until another surge of water washed over the rocks, snapping the branches in half and carrying them away.

It wasn’t long before they ran into another obstacle. The ground in this part of the forest dipped sharply. The rain had turned it into a mess of runoff and debris. Small creeks that had long since dried up now gushed with muddy water, winding and overflowing through the trees. Fallen branches and clumps of earth blocked the path, forcing Mapleshade to slow down and pick her way carefully along the higher ground, heading away from the river and deeper into ThunderClan’s territory.

The terrain didn’t let up for the better part of an hour. By the time the slope evened out, her legs were trembling, and the kits had stopped asking where they were going. Patchkit let out a tiny sneeze behind her. She didn’t turn, but her ear flicked.

The Twoleg bridge came into view, barely visible through the gaps in the undergrowth. The water was high, but not enough to obscure the bridge. Mapleshade limped forward, ignoring her stinging paws. Once they reached the opposite side, they would be safe.

“Come on,” she urged. “We’re almost there.”

Plodding onto the bridge, Mapleshade continued forward, the boards underpaw creaking. Rain continued to fall, battering her already soaked pelt.

A loud thud sounded behind her, followed by a splash of water. Mapleshade jerked around. Her breath caught in her throat. Goldenmist stalked towards the edge of the bridge where Petalkit clung, her claws digging into the soaked wood. Her back legs kicked in the air. Patchkit crouched several tail-lengths away from Goldenmist, his ears back. Larchkit was nowhere to be found.

“Get away from her!” Mapleshade barreled forward. Before she could reach Petalkit, the young she-cat lost her grip, falling with a shriek into the wild river below.

“NO!”

Mapleshade squeezed through a gap in the railing, launching herself into the torrential current below. She was knocked beneath the waves at once, shoved to the bottom of the river with such force it made her head spin.

Clamping her jaws shut, Mapleshade kicked out, forcing herself to the surface. She coughed, blinking the muddy water out of her eyes as she scanned the water for any sign of Petalkit or Larchkit.

A lump of tortoiseshell fur caught her attention. Her heart lurched as Patchkit floated past. Had Goldenmist thrown him into the river?! Patchkit’s head bobbed to the surface for a moment before going back under. When he broke the surface again, he coughed, trying to clear his lungs.

Mapleshade swam toward. She reached her leg out, claws unsheathed, trying to grab onto him. She tried to lean into the current, hoping it would push her closer, but the water was too choppy. The waves slammed against the side of her face, sloshing into her ears and up her nose. Her hearing was muted.

A flash of lightning reflected in Patchkit’s eyes as he blearily lifted his head above the surface once more. His eyelids fluttered shut, and he sank beneath the waves.

Kicking furiously, Mapleshade reached for him again. Her claws sank into his back leg, hauling him towards her. She pulled him out of the water, hooking her teeth into his scruff. Patchkit’s body hung like a dead weight in her mouth.

Mapleshade stopped moving, allowing the current to push her further downriver. As the bank came into view, she pushed out with all her might. She could feel the sand underpaw now, slippery and uncertain. Rocks dug into her pads as she clambered out of the water, setting Patchkit onto the soggy grass.

Placing a paw on his chest, she pressed down several times, trying to force out the water trapped in his lungs.

Nothing happened.

Mapleshade’s throat tightened. She repeatedly glanced over her shoulder back towards the river. Petalkit and Larchkit would be further away now. If she didn’t find them soon, they would drown. She looked back at Patchkit. She couldn’t leave him here by himself. He needed her.

She pressed against his chest again, harder this time. As she withdrew her paw, she realized with a jolt of horror that Patchkit had stopped breathing entirely.

“Patchkit?” she choked. “Patchkit? Can you hear me?” Mapleshade pressed her ear to his body. With a hiss, she shook her head, trying to get rid of the water in her ear. She leaned down again, unable to pick up the sound of his breathing or his heartbeat.

Mapleshade’s chest tightened. She collapsed to the ground, eyes burning. After several moments, she forced herself back to the river.

She swam without thinking.

She found Larchkit’s body caught in a clump of branches not far from where she pulled Patchkit out of the water. His head was slumped under the water. Mapleshade knew he was dead before she reached him.

She dragged his body back to where she’d left Patchkit. He hadn’t moved. Dropping Larchkit next to his brother, Mapleshade sat, shoulders hunched, staring down at their tiny, unmoving bodies. The world around her seemed to disappear. The roar of the river behind them had faded into nothingness. The ground underpaw vanished. Vast expanses of blank whiteness took over her brain, chasing away any semblance of a thought that tried to worm its way in.

Petalkit’s body was much further downstream than her brother’s had been. It had been washed partially ashore, with her back legs still resting in the water. She was sandwiched between a rock and a muddy alcove overhung with reeds. By the time Mapleshade got to her, her body had stiffened slightly.

As she hauled Petalkit’s stiff, awkward body back towards the rest of the kits, she was intercepted by a RiverClan patrol. Mapleshade barely noticed them. She lumbered past them, eyes bleary.

“Mapleshade, what happened?” Appledusk rushed forward.

Mapleshade stopped. At first, she didn’t say anything. Then her eyes rounded, unable to stop the tears that bubbled to the surface. “S-She… killed,” she choked out the words, “T-Them.” Goldenmist. She pushed them. S-said they…”

“What?” Appledusk hissed. He leaned closer, trying to make out the garbled words as they sputtered from Mapleshade’s mouth.

“They’re all dead,” Mapleshade sobbed.

Appledusk’s eyes widened. His ears flattened as he hung his head.

“I-I don’t know how, but ThunderClan found out. They exiled me. Goldenmist hunted us down. I chased her off once, but she followed us to the bridge. She pushed them into the water.”

Appledusk sighed. His eyes squeezed shut.

“Why would they exile you? Aren’t you the deputy?” an apprentice asked.

“Perchpaw, take Blossompond and look for the other two kits. One is tortoiseshell, the other is brown,” Appledusk ordered sharply. Perchpaw nodded and took off.

Mapleshade collapsed onto the wet sand next to Petalkit’s body. After a few seconds, she rolled onto her opposite side, unable to look at it for much longer. How had this day gone so wrong? In just a matter of hours, her life had changed for the worse. Now all three of her kits were dead, all because of Goldenmist.

“I knew this was going to happen,” Appledusk growled. “I knew it was all too good to be true. Now look what’s happened.”

“You asked me to meet with you!” Mapleshade shouted.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Appledusk began.

“Then what did you mean? Because you’re not going to stand there and act like you knew better!”

Appledusk didn’t answer her. Leaning down, he touched his nose to Petalkit’s body. He stood like that for a long time. “It wasn’t supposed to end like this.”

The reeds rustled. Perchpaw and Blossompond padded forward, the bodies of Larchkit and Patchkit hanging from their jaws. They laid the bodies next to their sister's.

“We should bury them,” Perchpaw said.

“No. We need to report this to Darkstar,” Blossompond meowed.

“That won’t be necessary. These are ThunderClan kits,” Appledusk argued.

Mapleshade stiffened. “Darkstar should know what ThunderClan has done to your kits!”

Perchpaw’s eyes widened. “These are your kits, Appledusk?”

“Yes. They are,” Mapleshade responded before Appledusk could deny it. His back stiffened, and he looked away.

Blossompond's gaze flickered back and forth between Appledusk and Mapleshade. She leaned down to take one of the kits again, but Mapleshade stood over their bodies, teeth bared. “You’re not touching them.”

“A-Alright. I was just going to take them back to camp, but… I’ll see if Darkstar will come here instead.” Blossompond scampered away. When she returned, Darkstar, Spiketail, Reedshine, and Redtail followed her.

Darkstar marched down the slope, eyes blazing. “What is this Blossompond tells me about you and Mapleshade? Is it true?”

Appledusk gave a small nod, unable to meet Darkstar's expression directly. “It is. I’m sorry.”

Reedshine crept forward, a distraught look on her face. Mapleshade’s breath caught in her throat as she noticed the subtle curve of Reedshine’s stomach as she came to the front of the crowd.

“Is she pregnant with your kits?” Mapleshade demanded.

“I am,” Reedshine said, her voice hollow. Her eyes were dull, the expression on her face broken as she stared at Appledusk. “You lied to me. How could you?”

“And me!” Mapleshade echoed. “I thought we were a family, but this entire time you’ve been going behind my back with Reedshine? I thought you didn’t like her.”

Reedshine bristled. “I wish I could say the same thing about you, but I’m not stupid. His eyes have always wandered a little too far for my liking.”

“Just like his father,” Redtail spat.

Appledusk’s claws sank into the sand. “I’m not like him. And I didn’t lie.”

“Then what do you call this?” Reedshine pointed a paw towards the three bodies.

“A… mistake.”

Mapleshade’s blood boiled as it raced through her veins. She stepped away from the kits, thrusting her muzzle into Appledusk’s personal space. “Don’t talk about them like that just because your Clanmates are here. You loved them! You loved me. You told me that just a few hours ago when I brought them to see you!”

Appledusk flicked his ear, turning his head away.

“Don’t ignore me when I talk to you!” Mapleshade shrieked.

Darkstar narrowed her eyes. “I knew I should’ve never accepted you back into the Clan after you abandoned us, Appledusk. Now look what you have done. I would punish you, but it seems as though StarClan has taken matters into their own paws.”

A growl rose in Mapleshade’s throat. “How dare you? These kits were innocent!”

“They were a mistake that should’ve never been born,” Darkstar uttered. She turned to Spiketail. “Bury the bodies.”

Mapleshade raked her claws down Spiketail’s cheek as he leaned down to grasp Larchkit’s scruff in his mouth. The RiverClan deputy recoiled with a hiss, his ears going flat against his skull. The fur along his spine bristled. “GET AWAY!” Mapleshade screeched, her voice wild and ragged.

“Let Mapleshade bury her kits. It’s none of RiverClan’s concern,” Reedshine said.

“No, don’t say that. They were half-RiverClan. I want to give them a proper burial,” Appledusk sighed.

Mapleshade forced out a fake laugh. “Now you care, do you? After you just stood there like a coward, ignoring me? After you lied to me all this time?” She shook her head in disbelief. “You’re so lost in your lies, you don’t even know who you are, do you? Maybe that’s why you chased after me so much. When the lies you were spreading back home got too much for you, you could come to me with a new one, and I was none the wiser!”

Appledusk’s breath shuddered. For a second, his eyes glistened. “I never lied when I said I loved you. But you lied, too.”

“Not to you! I was honest with you about everything from the moment we decided to be together,” Mapleshade argued.

“You lied and told your Clanmates that Birchface was the father. Now look where that’s gotten you. Our kits are dead.”

A shriek of dismay and anger slipped out of Mapleshade’s mouth. “I didn’t have a choice!”

“Neither did I!” Appledusk snapped.

“Yes, you did. You didn’t have to be with her when you had me,” Reedshine said. “I’ve been there for you through everything. I accepted you back into the Clan when no one else wanted you. And I want you now. Not for my sake, but for our kits.”

“Darkstar, don’t let him back. Exile him. He’s a waste of prey,” Redtail spat.

“No, don’t exile him!” Reedshine begged.

“Why shouldn’t I? He has broken my trust one too many times. I should toss him to the vultures where he belongs,” Darkstar argued.

“Because he’s the father of my kits, and RiverClan needs every warrior we can get. Exiling him won’t change the past.” Reedshine’s voice was firm and resolute.

“Your kits are better off without him,” Redtail muttered.

“You’re his mother. Why do you always have to talk about him like that?” Reedshine growled.

“Why do you always have to stand up for him? You shouldn’t even be here. Just go back to your camp, all of you, and leave me alone!” Mapleshade shouted.

“Appledusk is my mate. I deserve to be here,” Reedshine insisted.

Mapleshade curled her lip. Putting on a sarcastic tone, she mumbled, “Right. He’s your mate. You won. You must feel so proud. You get to have him and your stupid little kits. You get the happy ending you always wanted, while I’m kicked to the side, with my kits dead. Good for you, Reedshine.”

Reedshine’s tail drooped. “You think I’m happy? I never wanted this to happen.” She looked down at the dead kittens lying at Mapleshade’s paws. “I would never wish death on you or your kits. And I’m sorry it happened. You don’t deserve to be exiled over this, either.”

“You don’t mean that,” Mapleshade hissed.

“I do mean it.”

“Darkstar, what are you going to do?” Spiketail asked.

Appledusk stepped forward. “I’m loyal to RiverClan, I promise. I’ll admit I lied to you about Mapleshade, but that time before was a misunderstanding. I never abandoned RiverClan. You never let me explain what really happened.”

“Bah! Misunderstandings. You always have an excuse. You are just like the others who ran away. When they came groveling back, I sent them away. I should’ve done the same with you.” Darkstar lifted her muzzle. “Tell me now, Appledusk, why I shouldn’t send you to live with your father. I’m sure Podfoot would be glad to take you in.”

“If you exile him, I’m leaving too,” Reedshine declared.

Appledusk shook his head. “No. You can’t do that. You need to think of the kits.”

Mapleshade’s ear twitched. Think of the kits. Think of the kits?! What about the kits they shared that were lying dead at her paws? He’d so much as glanced at them twice. Goldenmist had murdered them, and he didn’t even care. Mapleshade sprang forward, shoving Appledusk to the ground. She sank her teeth into his throat, digging her claws into his shoulder.

Appledusk screamed. His front paws battered her forehead, while his back legs kicked at her sensitive stomach. Gathering all his strength, he knocked her off into a clump of reeds. Beads of water shook down onto Mapleshade’s already soaked pelt. She stalked forward again, but Spiketail and Darkstar stopped her.

“You are not welcome here. Leave now, and don’t come back,” Darkstar ordered.

Mapleshade knocked Darkstar’s shoulder, glaring as she stomped past. She hovered over her kits’ bodies, trying to pick all three of them up the best she could. Their bodies had stiffened significantly now.

“Let me help you,” Appledusk begged.

Mapleshade bared her teeth at him.

“Please. I want to say goodbye to them.”

Mapleshade didn’t dignify him with an answer. Grabbing Patchkit’s scruff, she stormed off. She wasn’t sure where she was going to bury them yet, but it needed to be somewhere perfect, just like they were. Her perfect, precious kits, stolen from her against her will. How had this even happened? It wasn’t fair. They were so good. They were so beautiful. They were smart, and funny, and gentle. They would’ve made good warriors one day. Now they were dead. 

“I know where we can bury them,” Appledusk said through Petalkit’s fur.

Mapleshade stopped walking. She reluctantly allowed Appledusk to take the lead. He led her through RiverClan’s unfamiliar territory until they reached the willow tree Appledusk had taken her to before. Setting Petalkit’s body down, Appledusk began digging a hole.

Perchpaw laid Larchkit down before going to help his mentor.

Mapleshade looked away absentmindedly. Her kits were dead. They drowned. They were murdered. They didn’t do anything wrong, and they were dead. She ripped blades of wet grass out of the ground, hissing as they stuck between her claws.

“I think that should be deep enough,” Appledusk murmured. He clambered out of the hole. Grasping Petalkit, he gently pulled her down into the grave. Perchpaw nudged Larchkit’s body over. Appledusk took it, placing it next to his sister’s. Once Patchkit was laid into the grave with his siblings, he jumped out.

Perchpaw began to push dirt into the hole.

Mapleshade let out a wail. Rushing forward, she knocked Perchpaw away from the grave. She leaped into the hole, grabbing Larchkit and shaking dirt from his body. “No. You can’t do that. You’re burying them alive. You’ll suffocate them!”

Appledusk stared over the edge of the hole, his ears back. “Mapleshade…”

“You’re trying to kill them. You’re trying to suffocate them! I won’t let you.” Ignoring the taste of dirt in her mouth, she began pulling Larchkit out of the grave. She placed him at the edge before going back for the other two.

Appledusk stopped her. “They’re already dead, Mapleshade. I’m sorry. But we need to bury them.”

“No. If you cover their faces, they won’t be able to breathe,” she insisted. “We need to get them out of here.”

“If we don’t bury them, the foxes will eat them,” Appledusk told her.

Mapleshade shook her head. She continued to mutter under her breath, digging through the dirt. Bits of dirt covered Petalkit’s nose. She brushed it away. “I’m sorry, Petalkit. I’m so, so, so sorry. You’re okay now. Can you breathe? I’ll help you. I’m here. I won’t let them trap you in this hole.”

Appledusk slid into the grave next to Mapleshade. He sank his teeth into her scruff, hauling her backwards, away from the kits. Mapleshade yowled, twisting and flailing her limbs. He let go of her just long enough for Perchpaw to grab onto her. He pulled her backwards, while Appledusk nudged her hindquarters out of the hole.

Jumping up, Appledusk placed his entire body weight onto Mapleshade, pressing her into the ground. She tried to push him off, but he was too heavy. From the corner of her eye, she could see Perchpaw rapidly pushing dirt back into the grave.

“Stop him. You’re letting him kill our kits! They’re going to suffocate. Appledusk, no! Please, stop him! They’re scared down there by themselves!” Mapleshade sobbed.

Finally, Perchpaw pushed the last bits of dirt into the hole. He compacted the ground the best he could with his paws.

“See if you can find a branch to place on top so she can’t dig them back up,” Appledusk called over his shoulder.

Perchpaw flicked an ear and rushed off.

“Why are you letting him do this to them?” Mapleshade wailed. She pushed at Appledusk again. Sensing her strength had long faded, Appledusk stepped off of her.

“They’re gone. I’m sorry.” He tried to nuzzle her, but Mapleshade recoiled.

“Don’t touch me! I hate you.”

Appledusk’s tail drooped. A flash of pain flickered across his expression. “I know you do. But I still love you. I never lied about that. I’m just… a coward, like you said. I always have been.”

Mapleshade ignored him. She half-crawled, half-dragged herself to the grave. She began scooping dirt away, muttering under her breath as she went. Appledusk shoved her back immediately. “Stop that!” he snapped.

Mapleshade hissed at him.

Appledusk pushed her back again. “Our kits are dead. They were dead long before we buried them, and they’re going to stay dead even if you dig them up. Leave them alone.”

“Why don’t you care about them? They’re scared. They can’t breathe,” Mapleshade said, her voice slurring.

“I do care about them; that’s why I’m doing this.”

Perchpaw returned several moments later, dragging a heavy branch in his jaws. Blossompond and an unfamiliar apprentice helped him. The three of them placed the branch over the grave.

“Thanks, Volepaw,” Perchpaw sighed.

Volepaw flicked an ear. Glancing at Mapleshade and Appledusk out of the corner of his eye, he asked, “What do we do now?”

“I’m going back to camp with you,” Appledusk declared. He stood up straight, stretching out his limbs and shaking dirt from his pelt.

“We should hurry. Darkstar’s angry enough as it is,” Blossompond said.

“Right. I’ll catch up with you in a minute. I need to finish dealing with Mapleshade,” Appledusk whispered.

A look of uncertainty flashed in Blossompond's eyes, but she said nothing as she led Perchpaw and Volepaw back to RiverClan’s camp. Now alone, Appledusk collapsed to the ground once more. His forehead rested on his legs, several long sighs forcing themselves out. “You have to leave them alone,” he told her after a moment of silence.

Mapleshade didn’t say anything. She stared at the branch sitting on top of her kits’ grave.

Appledusk stumbled to his paws. He walked over and sat next to her, leaning against her side. This time, she didn’t flinch away. “I’m so sorry this happened. They didn’t deserve this. You didn’t deserve this.”

“Don’t pretend like you care about me now,” Mapleshade whispered.

“I’ve always cared about you.”

“You lied. You said they were a mistake.”

Another sigh shuddered through Appledusk’s body. “I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean it. I loved those kits more than anything. I loved you more than anything.”

Mapleshade took a step towards the branch. “You love Reedshine.”

Appledusk flinched. “Yes,” he admitted. “I do.”

“Then you don’t love me more than anything. Because if you did, you wouldn’t have lied. Now you’re going back to her while you leave me and our kits alone.” Mapleshade pushed her shoulder against the branch, trying to push it away from the grave, but it didn’t budge. “You’re going to walk away while they’re dead in a hole, and you don’t care.”

“I do care. But what am I supposed to do? I can’t bring them back to life!”

Mapleshade pushed against the branch again. She growled, lashing out at it with her claws. Why wasn’t it moving? Surely it wasn’t that heavy! Maybe if she just pushed all of her weight against it again, it would budge. She continued to ram against the branch until her body was too fatigued to continue.

Finally giving up, Mapleshade stomped away from the grave. It was then she realized Appledusk was gone. His scent had faded long ago. He'd left her without even saying goodbye. 

She was completely and utterly alone.

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirty-four

The rain came and went, replaced once more by the scorching sun. Its relentless heat baked the grass under Mapleshade, prickling her skin. She lay still, eyes locked on the rotten, half-eaten, maggot-infested sparrow lying several fox-lengths from her.

For once, the wind rustled, swaying the branches of the willow tree. Mapleshade had refused to leave. Her kits were still here.

I’m so sorry, she thought once more. Stumbling to her paws, she pressed against the branch that still lay over their grave. Her flank scraped the sharp bark, another tuft of her fur catching on it. She watched as another gust of wind blew it away into the grass.

A growl rose in her throat.

Traitors.

Every last one of them. Nothing but a rotten, disgusting liars and traitors. Oakstar, Goldenmist, and Appledusk.

Mapleshade let out a screech of fury, kicking the rotten sparrow, sending it flying. Appledusk was the worst of them all. He told her he loved her. He tricked her. And the whole time… the whole time he’d been going behind her back with Reedshine of all cats!

No. No. Oakstar is worse. Oakstar—No. It’s Goldenmist. She killed them. She pushed them into the river. She wanted them to die. She did it on purpose. She hated them. She hated me. And I hate her. I hate her. I hate her. I hate her!

And I hate Appledusk.

As if her thoughts had summoned him, Appledusk appeared. He hung several badger-lengths away from her, his ears flat against his skull. His eyes darted back and forth, trying to read her body language. “You’re still here,” he finally said, stepping forward.

Mapleshade lowered her head, the fur along her spine bristling. “Leave. You are not welcome here.”

“You’re on RiverClan’s territory,” Appledusk reminded her.

“I can go wherever I want,” Mapleshade hissed.

Appledusk sighed. “I don’t want to fight with you, but you have to leave. If you don’t, Darkstar’s going to send a patrol to chase you off.”

“You would like that, wouldn’t you?” Mapleshade stalked around him. “You want me to leave. To get out of your life. You don’t care about me. It was allll a lie. A game. A big, fun game. And now our kits are dead. Dead, dead, dead.”

“Stop it!” Appledusk snapped. He twisted his body around, coming face to face with Mapleshade. She continued to circle him, but he held out a foreleg, stopping her. “You’re losing it. You need to get a grip on reality.”

“Oh, I’ve got a grip on reality. Do you?”

“Yes, I do. You don’t!” Appledusk’s gaze flickered to the branch, then back to Mapleshade. “You think you’re the only one who’s grieving, but you’re not.”

“If you cared, you wouldn’t have lied to me. You haven’t even come to see them since they died!”

“Because you won’t let me. How am I supposed—”

Mapleshade cut him off. “You don’t deserve to see them. They’re dead because of you.”

“Because of me?!” Appledusk’s eyes bugged out of his head. His face grimaced into a look of disbelief. “You’ve lost it. You’ve absolutely lost it.”

“It’s because of you that my Clanmates hate me. You were there when Birchface died, and now you’ve ruined my life.”

Appledusk scoffed. “I’m not going to stand here and argue with you. Leave, Mapleshade. Now.”

Mapleshade sat down, curling her tail over her paws. She puffed out her chest, head held high as she eyed him coolly. “And I suppose you’re going to make me, hm? Hmm? You want me to leave so badly? Well, I won’t go. So what are you going to do about it, Appledusk?”

Appledusk’s eyes narrowed. He took a step back.

“You don’t want to bring honor to your Clan by chasing me out of your territory? I’m sure they’re whispering about you behind your back right now as we speak. They don’t trust you. They never will. I can’t say I blame them. After all, everyone knows the truth now: you’re a liar and a dirty traitor.” Mapleshade sighed. She lifted a leg, staring down at her grubby, dirt-stained paws.

“What are you trying to accomplish here?” he demanded.

“What are you trying to accomplish?”

“I asked you a question, Mapleshade. What are you trying to do, make me feel bad? Because I already do. I feel terrible! I loved them, and I loved you. But I’m a fish-brain, and I made some mistakes. And I can’t change what I’ve done.” Appledusk’s chest heaved. His expression softened for half a second. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what more you want from me.”

He took a step towards the branch, his tail dragging along the ground. Mapleshade flew to her paws, overtaking his stride as she blocked him.

“You don’t get to see them. You don’t get to apologize,” she spat. “You don’t get to talk to me, to lie to me. Go home. Get away from here!”

Appledusk stopped. The tip of his tail began to thrash, the fur along his spine raising. “You have three days to leave. After that, I don’t want to see you again.” He took a step back, his shoulders loosening. His eyes flickered from the branch to Mapleshade’s face.

Mapleshade ignored the hint of emotion. She followed him, staring him down as he tried to slip back through the reeds he’d come from. “Save yourself the trouble and do it now, coward. You clearly want to.”

“Mapleshade, stop it!”

“Make Reedshine proud, Appledusk. Be the good father and mate to her that you never intended to be with me. Maybe then you’ll earn some of that respe—” Mapleshade gasped, her body lurching sideways. Just as quickly as she’d been knocked to the ground, the weight on top of her disappeared. Rearing to her paws, she stared down her attacker. To her surprise, it wasn’t Appledusk, but Perchpaw.

Appledusk let go of his scruff, glaring at him.

Mapleshade’s lip curled. She paid no attention to their conversation, instead bunching her muscles and launching herself into Perchpaw’s side. The young tom squealed, collapsing to the ground in a tangle of bodies. Mapleshade batted at his skull, one foot sliding down the side of his neck, ripping out a large chunk of fur but otherwise doing no damage.

Perchpaw kicked at her stomach. Mapleshade hissed in pain, pulling back. She crouched just mouse-lengths away from him, sides heaving, ears back.

Perchpaw swatted at her again, but Mapleshade blocked his blow. Slowly, she stood to her full height, back arched. Just as she was about to leap onto him again, Appledusk stepped between them.

Mapleshade’s body collided with his. She bit down onto Appledusk’s shoulder with as much anger as she could muster. Blood welled up, spraying her mouth. She grimaced, letting go.

Behind her, she could feel Perchpaw’s presence. He opened his mouth to clamp down on her tail, but Mapleshade spun around to smack the side of his head.

“Ouch! Fish-dung, you sure hit hard…” Perchpaw coughed, taking a step back.

Mapleshade’s claws dug into the ground, ripping up scraps of dead leaves and tossing them aside. Appledusk bent to check Perchpaw, but she didn’t spare them a glance. With a huff, she turned and stalked back toward the kits’ grave, as if nothing had happened.

Seconds later, Appledusk slid half of his body out from the reeds, though he didn’t come any closer. Perchpaw poked his head out next to him.

“Remember what I said. Three days,” Appledusk called.

Mapleshade ignored him.

Sun-scorched dead grass crunched underpaw as Mapleshade lumbered across the moor, a rabbit clamped firmly in her jaws. The scent of its blood blocked out the disgusting tang of the RiverClan scent markers she’d rolled in to disguise herself.

She paused by an outcrop of rocks, brushing against it. With a satisfied smirk, she continued.

This was the third time she’d done this. She wasn’t sure if WindClan had caught on yet, but it wouldn’t be long before they did. Hopefully they’d be furious, though they were such softhearted pushovers that Mapleshade wasn’t sure they’d do anything. Still, the idea was satisfying enough to her that she didn’t want to give up now.

She'd wanted to do the same thing to ThunderClan, though she knew at this point her original scent was still too recognizable to them. It had only been a few weeks since her exile.

She stopped. Bile rose in her throat, a screech tearing from her mouth. Tossing the rabbit to the ground, she stalked around it, her mind gone again.

Who did they think they were doing this to her? Sure, Oakstar had always been an insufferable foxheart with the leadership skills of a vengeful badger, but were the rest of her Clanmates really that stupid?

They must’ve been. There was no denying that now. Goldenmist certainly was. And stupid Ravenwing. He’d never liked her. He’d probably made the entire thing up to punish her for some inexplicable reason. Dawnfeather wasn’t much better, either. Her own sister—her own kin—tossing her aside like she meant nothing! 

Oh, I lost my daughter. I need to mope around forever. No other family matters to me now. I’m a poor, tragic victim. Give me a break! What about me? What about what I’ve just gone through? You still have your son. Both of mine are dead. So is my daughter. You can live alongside a murderer, but when your own sister loves someone from another Clan, that’s where you draw the line? How pathetic!

Several other faces flashed through her mind. She couldn’t remember if they’d stood up for her or not. It didn’t really matter. They hadn’t done enough. If they’d really cared about her, they would’ve stopped Oakstar from exiling her. Perhaps the truth was that they, too, wanted her to leave. 

Whatever. It didn’t matter. They were a hopeless bunch, anyway. Nothing but a cast of bumbling mouse-brains at the mercy of the most incompetent leader to exist, one who was too busy being bound by the whims of his spoiled-rotten offspring to do a proper job of leading their Clan.

Oakstar had gotten what he deserved, though. Birchface was dead. That was one kit down. Goldenmist was still out there somewhere. Knowing her, she was probably parading around the camp boasting about what she’d done, bobbing her head like a well-fed pigeon. 

Was Goldenmist deputy now, Mapleshade wondered, or had Oakstar chosen someone more competent to replace her? Not that Goldenmist had much competition. The only real cat standing in her way was Deerdapple, but she was too old at this point to be considered a real candidate.

Mapleshade placed her paw on the rabbit’s throat, sinking her claws into it. Closing her eyes, she imagined it was Goldenmist instead.

Crunchy grass alerted her to someone else’s presence. Mapleshade’s ear swirled around, her mouth opening just slightly. It was Sablestar. Rising to her feet, Mapleshade met the WindClan leader head-on, her ears perking back up.

Sablestar’s eyes narrowed. She paused several tail-lengths from Mapleshade, her eyes drinking in the scene in front of her, running from the rabbit back to Mapleshade’s face. “Mapleshade, what are you doing?” Her tone was calm, as if she wanted to take the chance and believe there could be an honest explanation for what she was witnessing.

Mapleshade didn’t answer. She looked at Sablestar’s face, trying to find Oakstar in it. Sablestar’s face was much slimmer than his. Her eyes were larger, too, though Mapleshade could place just the slightest bit of resemblance between them.

“Nothing.”

“What’s this you’ve got?” Sablestar started towards the rabbit.

Mapleshade stepped over it, her teeth bared. Sablestar recoiled. Her ears immediately flattened to her skull, eyeing Mapleshade as she took another step back.

“You’re stealing our prey. Why would you do this?” Sablestar demanded. As she spoke, her voice began to deepen. Her face twisted, widening, until Oakstar was staring back at her.

“You’re breaking the warrior code,” Oakstar growled, stalking forward.

Mapleshade’s breath caught in her throat. She involuntarily took a step back. Oakstar continued forward, glaring at her. “Do you have nothing to say for yourself after what you’ve done?”

“They’re dead because of you,” Mapleshade choked out. “You sent them to die. How could you do that to me after everything I’ve done for you?”

Oakstar blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“My kits! You exiled us. You let them drown!” Rage bubbled to the surface again, the quick surprise she’d felt moments ago vanishing like dew. The fur along her spine bristled, and before she knew it, she lunged.

Oakstar caught her head-on, twisting his body around. He slammed her into the hot ground, battering her head with his paws. Mapleshade clamped down onto his foreleg with her teeth, kicking into his stomach with her back legs. To her surprise, Oakstar was lighter than she expected. She could feel his ribs through his pelt. With a mighty shove, she threw him back, clambering to her paws again.

Oakstar’s paw swiped at her face, but Mapleshade dodged it, leaving his paw to graze the air next to her head. She clawed at his shoulder, digging in deep enough to pull his scrawny body towards her. Sinking her teeth into his throat, Mapleshade clung on. Oakstar writhed and screeched. His body fell, still kicking and lashing at her.

Mapleshade’s head snapped back temporarily as Oakstar slapped her cheek, though she quickly regained her focus and bit down again. His blood filled her mouth, running down her chin. Then he went still.

Mapleshade let go, gagging. She took a step back. To her surprise, there was no sense of accomplishment in what she’d just done. Oakstar was dead, but so were her kits.

It wasn’t until Mapleshade looked down that she realized what she’d actually done. Lying at her paws wasn’t the body of Oakstar, but of Sablestar. Mapleshade’s eyes widened briefly, though the shock dissipated quickly.

Is she actually dead? Mapleshade pressed her paw to Sablestar’s chest, trying to find a heartbeat. When she couldn’t find one, Mapleshade withdrew her paw and looked around. They were still alone. No one had heard Sablestar’s cries.

“You’re not who I was aiming for,” Mapleshade remarked to Sablestar’s body. She prodded it again. Sablestar was fairly young, wasn’t she? No, that couldn’t be right. She was… older than Oakstar, wasn’t she? She tried to remember the story Oakstar had told her, only to realize she didn’t care. It didn’t matter.

Mapleshade sat with Sablestar’s body for a while longer. Should I do something with the body, or leave it here? She glanced over her shoulder in the direction of RiverClan’s territory.

Grasping Sablestar’s scruff in her mouth, Mapleshade dragged it towards the gorge. Sablestar was heavier than she’d expected now that she was fully limp. After stumbling on a rock for the fourth time, Mapleshade grew frustrated and threw Sablestar’s body into a nearby bush, walking back to where she’d left the rabbit.

By the time she reclaimed her catch, ants had already taken it over. Hissing, Mapleshade stormed away. She didn’t relax until the shade of the forest had enveloped her entire body. Sighing, she found a cool patch of grass and curled up, lapping at her fur.

A sense of disappointment washed over her. It hadn’t been Oakstar after all. She should’ve known it was too good to be true. She didn’t want to kill Sablestar, but accidents happened. She shouldn’t have gotten in her way.

Nabbing a mouse, Mapleshade scarfed it down and headed back towards the Twoleg bridge. She paused at the river’s edge for a quick drink. As she did, the wind shifted, blowing an unfamiliar scent in her direction.

Mapleshade ducked beneath some bracken, watching through narrow eyes as three shapes approached the water's edge from the opposite shore. At the head of the group was a dark tortoiseshell. Mapleshade recognized her immediately. It was the leader of the rogue group, whatever her name had been. Rat… Rash, something like that.

Bored, Mapleshade slipped out of her hiding place. Paying the rogues no attention, she continued on her way.

“You there!” One of the rogues, a tom, shouted.

Mapleshade stopped. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

“You’re not going to tell us to get out of here?” he asked. The tom next to him puffed out his chest, staring Mapleshade down.

Mapleshade’s eyes narrowed. “Why would I? You’re free to go wherever you please.” She continued forward.

“I recognize you,” the tortoiseshell she-cat called.

A growl rose in Mapleshade’s throat. Go away! “Do you now?”

The tortoiseshell padded to a shallow part of the river, jumping from rock to rock until she reached the same shoreline as Mapleshade. Cautiously, she walked forward, still keeping a large distance between the two of them. The tortoiseshell looked her up and down. “Yes, I’m certain of it. You—”

“Coincidence. There’s no chance you’d know of me.”

“You’re not one of those Clan cats?” One of the toms called from across the river.

“You smell like RiverClan,” the tortoiseshell pointed out. She padded forward, still cautious.

“And you smell like something not-so-pleasant.” Mapleshade wrinkled her nose. “I’m leaving now. Drink your water. Leave. Eat. Do whatever you want. It’s none of my concern.” She stalked into the brittle undergrowth, rolling her eyes.

The bracken behind her swished as the little tortoiseshell followed her. Mapleshade rounded on her, claws unsheathed. “Whoever you think I am, you’re wrong. Now leave me alone!”

The she-cat’s fur bristled. “Then you’d have no problem with us staying here for a few days?”

“I’ve already told you, it means nothing to me. Just leave me and my kits alone.”

“You have kits with you?” The tortoiseshell’s face softened.

“I had them, but they killed them. They drowned them,” Mapleshade hissed.

“Who did?”

“Goldenmist and Oakstar. But they’re all guilty. RiverClan, too. They’re all liars. But do they care? No. They kicked me out of their territory. They said I had to leave. I didn’t do anything wrong, and this is how they treat me?” The words spilled from Mapleshade’s mouth in a rushed demeanor, her voice rising with each word.

“Oakstar. You mean the leader of ThunderClan?” the tortoiseshell asked.

Mapleshade glared at her. “Oh, so you know him. I feel sorry for you.”

“We’re a little too familiar with the Clans. I thought I could trust them once, but… that wasn’t the case. In the end, they murdered my mother and exiled us,” the tortoiseshell explained. “My name is Ramona, by the way.”

What a stupid name.

“My name is none of your business. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”

Ramona ignored her. “My cats and I live together in the Twoleg’s Place. We work together to help those in need. Those who’ve been wronged—like you.”

“I don’t need anyone’s help,” Mapleshade growled. “I’ve gotten enough ‘help’ in my life, and look where it’s gotten me. So you can take your little group and go back to wherever you came from.”

Ramona stood her ground. “The offer still stands if you change your mind. Anyone is welcome. Just head into the Twoleg's Place and ask the first cat you come across. They'll know what you're talking about. Good luck out there.”

Mapleshade disappeared into the undergrowth.

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirty-five

Mapleshade lay on her back, gazing through the pockets in the clouds at the stars. Slowly, she angled her head back, looking at the branch sitting atop the kits’ grave. Her stiff muscles ached as she rolled over, limping over to the branch.

Placing a paw on the bark, she closed her eyes. When will you come back to me?

Her head drooped forward, hitting against the wood, but she didn’t move.

She wasn’t sure how long it’d been since their deaths. She’d lost track. One thing she was certain of, though: it’d been longer than three days, and she hadn’t caught sight of a RiverClan patrol since Appledusk had come to bother her.

With a snort, she drew away from the branch. Knowing him, he’d probably made the whole thing up to try to scare her away. She wasn’t afraid of him, though. She wasn’t afraid of anyone from RiverClan. Or ThunderClan, for that matter. She welcomed a fight with them, if anything. She’d already shown Sablestar what she was capable of, and she couldn’t wait until she’d be able to do the same thing to the others.

The breeze shifted, blowing a familiar sweet scent her way. Mapleshade’s heart lurched. Spinning around, she came face-to-face with three small, glowing bodies lined with stars. “I knew you’d make your way back to me,” she choked out.

“Mother!” Patchkit cried. He clambered down from the branch and raced over to her, brushing against her front legs. Petalkit and Larchkit followed him.

Mapleshade buried her muzzle in Petalkit’s fur, drawing in a deep breath. “I knew you’d come back,” she repeated. “What took you so long?”

“We were lost,” Petalkit explained.

Mapleshade’s ears flattened. “My poor, sweet things. I hope you weren’t afraid.”

“We weren’t,” Larchkit promised. “We knew you were waiting for us.”

“And now you’re here.” I won’t let anyone take you from me again.

Looking at the sky, Mapleshade narrowed her eyes. The clouds shifted again, exposing a large swath of stars against the black sky. The spirits of the deceased, she’d always been told. So how was it that her kits were here with her again? She looked down at their little bodies, noting every star throughout their fur. Could it be that StarClan had rejected them, too, all because they were half-Clan?

“What did they say to you?” Mapleshade demanded.

Larchkit frowned. “What?”

“StarClan! What did they do to you?”

“We… we didn’t see anyone,” Petalkit confessed, looking just as confused as her brothers.

“So you were alone when you died.” Mapleshade glared back at the sky. “You left them by themselves. They’re just kits!” she shouted. Turning away, lip curled, she paced back and forth, swiping the ground with her paws, sending a spray of sand into the air.

“I should’ve known they wouldn’t be there for you. They weren’t there for me. They’ve never been there for any cat.” She looked at the sky again. “What have you ever done to deserve our respect?! You sit up there and judge us from a distance, but when it comes time to actually do anything, you’re nowhere to be found!”

Where was Rowanfur? Where was Flowerpaw? Where was Birchface? He’d forgiven her, but when her kits were drowning, he wasn’t there to help. He hadn’t even bothered to come check on them after they’d died. None of them had.

“It’s okay. We didn’t want to go to StarClan. We wanted to stay here with you,” Patchkit meowed.

Mapleshade stopped in her tracks. She collapsed to the ground with a sigh. “I didn’t want you to go to StarClan, either. I just… can’t forgive them for leaving you by yourselves. You’re too little to be out there by yourselves.”

“We weren’t by ourselves. It was only a moment for us,” Larchkit said.

Petalkit nodded. “We don’t even remember what happened at the end.”

Mapleshade turned her head. She didn’t want them to see her eyes glistening. Good. I can’t bear the idea of you remembering what they did to you…

“Now what?” Petalkit asked.

“’Now what?’” Mapleshade echoed.

“Are we going to stay here forever?” Petalkit looked back at the willow tree. “It’s pretty, but I want to go home.”

“I miss our nest in the nursery,” Larchkit yawned.

“We’re not going back there!” Mapleshade growled.

Larchkit’s eyes widened. “What? Why not?”

Mapleshade hauled herself to all fours again. “They betrayed us. They cast us out like we were nothing… like you were nothing. But they’re wrong.”

A look of understanding crossed all three of their faces. “Goldenmist called us creatures,” Petalkit remarked, wrinkling her nose.

“I don’t understand what we did to make her hate us so much. She used to be so nice to us. And then…” Patchkit looked to his paws, shuffling them on the ground.

“Goldenmist is wrong. You’re not creatures. You’re precious, and you’ve done nothing wrong. Do you understand me?” Mapleshade began covering them in hurried licks as if they’d disappear if she wasn’t fast enough.

“What did Appledusk say?” Larchkit asked suddenly.

Mapleshade tensed. “No. Don’t… don’t ask about him. Don’t talk about him. Don’t talk about any of them anymore, okay? You’re here with me, which means you’re fine.”

The wind shifted again, blotting the stars out completely, sending a shadow over the forest.

An orange glow dappled the forest as the sun began to sink. Mapleshade curled against the foot of a tree, watching as Larchkit and Patchkit wrestled. Petalkit sat beside her, her head lifted.

Suddenly, a brown leaf fluttered from the sky. Petalkit’s eyes widened. Bunching her muscles, she leaped into the air, taking the leaf down. Quickly, she scooped it into her mouth, turning back to Mapleshade.

“Good job,” Mapleshade purred.

Larchkit ran forward. “I want to play with it!”

Petalkit batted at him.

“Come on, let me play!”

“We can play with these leaves,” Patchkit called. He hooked one of the leaves that’d been lying on the ground with his claw, trying to bat it up into the air. The leaf stuck to his paw. Patchkit’s ears flattened as he shook it, trying to send it flying off.

“Here,” Mapleshade chuckled. She grasped the leaf in her jaw, ripping it off his claw. It crumbled apart, falling to the ground.

“These leaves are too crumbly to play with,” Larchkit complained. He flopped down, sighing dramatically. “I’m so bored. Can we—”

“Hush.” Mapleshade straightened. She angled her ears, picking up something in the distance.

“What’s wrong?” Petalkit asked.

Mapleshade ignored her. She headed forward, walking down the slope. Through the thinning leaves, she could make out the shape of Sunningrocks in the distance. Writhing, screeching cats covered the rocks, making her lips curl. She couldn’t make out who was who here, but it didn’t matter.

We’re closer than I thought.

“Wait here,” Mapleshade commanded.

Without waiting to see if the kits would obey, she darted forward. Her tortoiseshell-and-white pelt blended in with the foliage littering the ground. ThunderClan would never see her coming.

Before launching herself into battle, she paused. Ducking behind a tree, she peered around the edge. Her eyes scanned over the throng of fighting cats, trying to pick out Goldenmist or Oakstar. As much as she hated ThunderClan, she wasn’t in the mood to pick a fight with someone unimportant.

There. Goldenmist’s sleek body appeared atop one of the rocks. She sneered down on some irrelevant RiverClan warrior. A purr rose in Mapleshade’s throat. It was perfect. Goldenmist was distracted.

Mapleshade launched herself down the slope leading to the rocks. She dodged around several fighting cats, her eyes locked on Goldenmist. She was still distracted, staring down the RiverClan warrior. Mapleshade dropped into a crouch, inching forward.

“—and you’ll never set another paw on Sunningrocks again!” Goldenmist screeched, batting at the warrior.

The warrior—or apprentice, Mapleshade now realized—stared up at her with wide, fearful eyes. His back was pressed against one of the rocks. Every time Goldenmist lashed out at him, he batted her paws away with quick precision, though his movements were limited by the stones pressed to his back.

“Bullying someone smaller than you again?” Mapleshade remarked. She pounced, not giving Goldenmist time to react. With a shriek, Goldenmist slid downwards, tumbling from the top of the rock she’d been standing on. Mapleshade landed on her. At once, she began battering Goldenmist’s cheek with her unsheathed claws.

Goldenmist twisted, yowling in pain. She twisted again, managing to sink her claws into Mapleshade’s foreleg. She pulled it towards her face, sinking her teeth into Mapleshade’s flesh.

Mapleshade ripped back, blood rippling to the surface. She smacked Goldenmist’s jaw hard, knocking her head backwards. “You’ll pay for what you did to me,” she hissed.

Goldenmist clenched her teeth. She wriggled her hind legs under Mapleshade’s belly, kicking upwards. Mapleshade yelped, darting back involuntarily. Quick as a fish, Goldenmist darted to her paws. Ramming her shoulder against Mapleshade’s flank, she knocked her sideways. Mapleshade staggered, claws scraping against the stone underpaw.

Goldenmist swiped at her ear. Mapleshade ducked. Her foreleg shot out, batting at Goldenmist’s front legs. The ThunderClan she-cat staggered for a second, though it wasn’t enough to knock her off balance.

Irritation bloomed through Mapleshade’s body. She dodged another blow, turning and slashing at Goldenmist’s shoulder. Rearing up on her hind legs, she launched herself forward, wrapping her paws around Goldenmist’s neck. Goldenmist reared up as well, both she-cats locked in combat. Mapleshade dug her claws in deep, trying to shake Goldenmist to the ground.

“Don’t just stand there, help me!” Goldenmist shouted.

Mapleshade spotted a brown figure out of the corner of her eye. Squirrelpaw hovered nearby, her eyes flickering back and forth between Goldenmist and Mapleshade.

Mapleshade smirked. Gathering her strength, she shoved Goldenmist away. The golden-furred warrior landed with a thud, her chest heaving. Squirrelpaw scurried to her side, nosing Goldenmist to her paws.

“Why didn’t you help me? You’re so useless sometimes!” Goldenmist snapped.

Squirrelpaw’s eyes narrowed.

“Squirrelpaw, get out of here,” Mapleshade ordered.

“Don’t tell her what to do! She’s my apprentice.”

“And this is between us!” Mapleshade took a step forward. “I’m not leaving here until you get what you deserve!” She jumped forward, landing on Goldenmist again. Goldenmist gasped for breath as Mapleshade’s paw pressed down against her throat.

“You killed them. You wanted them to die.” Mapleshade pressed her full weight onto Goldenmist’s throat.

Squirrelpaw rammed into Mapleshade’s flank, knocking her off Goldenmist. Mapleshade spun, her teeth bared. “You little—”

Squirrelpaw lifted a paw. As she was about to swipe, her eyes widened. She turned, racing away. Mapleshade sat up, watching through narrowed eyes. Before she could regather her bearings, a rock dislodged, sliding down, landing on her tail. Pain engulfed Mapleshade’s entire lower body. She screeched, writhing in agony as she tried to rip her tail free.

A shadow fell over Mapleshade’s face. Lifting her head, Goldenmist’s form appeared, blocking out the last rays of the dying sun. “I’ve got you now,” she whispered. She lifted her paw, claws unsheathed.

Mapleshade hissed. As she raised a paw to defend herself, another ripple of agony spread through her lower body.

Goldenmist’s paw sliced through the air.

“No!”

A flash of brown fur darted in front of Mapleshade. A gurgling sound was heard before the cat’s entire body weight slumped onto Mapleshade. She pushed him to the side, her eyes going wide as soon as she realized who it was.

“Appledusk!” Blood welled from a wound in his throat. He gasped for air.

Mapleshade watched in horror as he choked on his own blood. “Why…?” She turned to look at Goldenmist, eyes blazing. “Look what you did!”

Panic surged through her entire body as more blood began to pool under Appledusk’s body. His eyes were closed now, a pained expression on his face. His mouth opened slightly, another gurgling sound coming from it.

He’s trying to tell me something, she realized. Her panic then turned to anger. She stared down at him, her eyes glistening. “Why’d you do that? I could’ve taken care of myself!”

“It…wasn’t fair,” he choked out, eyes flickering open for a brief second.

Mapleshade’s face twisted. “Why do you care? You lied to me. You abandoned me like everyone else. And now look at you. Why?!”

Appledusk’s eyes opened again. He lifted his head as much as he could, studying her face. “I…love…you.”

Mapleshade shook her head. “No, you don’t. You don’t. If you did—if you…” Her throat tightened, the words caught. A tear slid down her face. “If you did, it wouldn’t be like this. Why’d you have to ruin everything?!”

Appledusk opened his mouth again, but before he could say anything else, his body lurched. A violent cough erupted from his throat, blood running down the side of his jaw. He choked again, gasping for air. 

Another tear fell from Mapleshade’s eye. “I didn’t want it to be like this,” she whispered. She pulled herself up as much as she could, her tail still trapped beneath the rubble. Placing a paw on Appledusk’s throat, she dug her claws in deep.

His eyes widened. A few moments later, he twitched and went still. Mapleshade’s paw remained in place, her vision wavering as she stared down at him. Slowly, she withdrew her gaze from Appledusk, directing it at Goldenmist once more.

Goldenmist lunged. Mapleshade shrank down, twisting as the golden-furred warrior landed on her shoulders. She rolled on the ground, still half-trapped beneath the rocks. She reared up as much as she could, throwing Goldenmist into the rock. It dislodged just enough for Mapleshade to clamber free.

Ignoring the pain radiating down her lower back, Mapleshade spun around. She hooked Goldenmist by the throat, slamming her head against the ground. The two she-cats continued to fight, moving through the thinning throng of cats. Mapleshade clambered to the top of Sunningrocks. Goldenmist stood in front of her, the river flowing behind her, backed by dark storm clouds in the distance.

Mapleshade’s breath caught in her throat. Suddenly, the stone underpaw turned to wood. Patchkit, Petalkit, and Larchkit stood between her and Goldenmist. Goldenmist raised a paw—

“NO!” Mapleshade flung herself at Goldenmist, sending the two of them tumbling down the rocky slope, down to the edge of the water. Heart racing, Mapleshade pinned Goldenmist in place. “Leave them alone!”

Stepping off, Mapleshade spun around, eyes frantic. She lumbered to the top of the rock, trying to spot the kits. “Where are you?” she shouted.

Please, not again! Where are you? You have to be around here somewhere!

Goldenmist’s claws sank into Mapleshade’s sore tail. Screeching, Mapleshade slipped, sharp stones digging into her paw pads. With a glare, she turned, staring Goldenmist down again. She hadn’t realized how far she’d fallen until the gentle lap of waves brushed against her back.

“There’s nowhere for you to run now,” Goldenmist taunted. She took a step closer.

“Goldenmist.” A second figure appeared at the top of the slope. Bloomheart’s silhouette came into view, Squirrelpaw and Crowfrost at his side. “The battle’s over with.”

Goldenmist ignored him. She swatted at Mapleshade, who blocked her attack. Bloomheart leaped down the slope, coming to stand between them.

“What are you doing?” Goldenmist demanded.

Bloomheart stared at Mapleshade. “Save what's left of your dignity and leave.”

“What? You’re just going to let her go after everything she’s done?!” Goldenmist shrieked. 

Mapleshade bared her teeth. Slinking past Bloomheart, she began the descent back up the rocks.

“Don’t think this is over!” Goldenmist shouted after her.

Mapleshade turned her head. She peered down at Goldenmist through narrowed eyes. Flicking an ear, she turned and fled.

Appledusk’s body hung like a dead weight in Mapleshade’s jaws as she dragged it into the forest.

“Is he dead?” Larchkit’s voice sounded from the undergrowth.

Mapleshade dropped the body, her jaw hanging open. Rushing forward, she nuzzled against Larchkit. Patchkit and Petalkit came into view, their little heads poking out from beneath a bush. “You’re still here. She was going to hurt you again, but you’re safe.” I don't want you to see his body like this. You're too little. 

Leaves crunched underpaw. Mapleshade tensed. She moved in front of the kits, claws unsheathed, just in time to catch Perchpaw and Crowfrost rushing towards her. Mapleshade relaxed.

Perchpaw skidded to a halt. His eyes rounded as he peered past Mapleshade, staring at Appledusk’s body in disbelief. “He’s dead?” His big eyes turned to Mapleshade. “Did you kill him?”

“Goldenmist killed him.”

Crowfrost gasped. “What?”

Perchpaw stumbled forward.

Drawing her tail around the kits, Mapleshade moved them out of the way. She watched as the apprentice crouched beside his mentor’s body. Perchpaw sat there for several moments, head bowed. He then rose to his paws. “I’ll have to get help.”

“Help for what? He’s already dead,” Mapleshade muttered.

“Help carrying him across the river. We need to bury him,” Perchpaw whimpered.

“No. I’m going to bury him here. You can go home now,” Mapleshade told him.

“You can’t bury him here. This is ThunderClan’s territory. He belongs in RiverClan! Reedshine needs to be there.”

A growl rose in Mapleshade’s throat. “I said, go home!”

Perchpaw flinched. Eyes glistening, he turned and fled.

As soon as he was out of view, Mapleshade scraped at the ground, throwing bits of leaves and dirt flying behind her. She bit back a hiss, the muscles in her body aching, but she continued. Crowfrost’s gaze burned into her pelt.

“What are you doing here?” Mapleshade growled.

Without saying a word, Crowfrost came to stand on the opposite side of the hole. She gracefully scooped out bits of dirt, pushing them to the side.

“What are you doing?”

“…I’m helping you,” Crowfrost whispered, not meeting Mapleshade’s gaze.

“Why would you do that?”

Crowfrost fell silent. She pushed another mound of dirt out of the hole. “He means a lot to you, doesn’t he?”

“No. Not anymore.”

Crowfrost lifted her head. She then pushed another pile of dirt to the side.

“That’s good enough,” Mapleshade rasped. She grabbed Appledusk’s scruff, hauling it into the shallow grave. Her throat tightened.

I really loved you. But you lied to me.

She shoved a pile of dirt into the hole, covering his face.

Stones clattered down by the river. The wind shifted, blowing RiverClan scent towards her. Hurried pawsteps scrambled up the slope, leaves breaking underpaw as their pace increased. Mapleshade darted away from the grave, rushing deeper into the undergrowth. She didn’t look back as Reedshine’s heartwrenching wails sounded in the distance.

Mapleshade ducked beneath a monster, lapping at her sore tail. The muscles in her lower back ached as she leaned down, causing her to hiss. Around her, an icy rain whipped against the side of the monster, a cold gust of wind blowing beneath its paws.

Mouse-dung, she thought bitterly. Giving up, she dropped into a crouch, pulling her paws closer to her body. She fluffed her fur out, though it did little to protect her from the cold.

“It’s freezing out here,” Petalkit complained.

“I know. I promise we’ll find somewhere better once the storm dies down,” she said to the kits.

“It’s been raining for hours.” With a sigh, Larchkit slumped against one of the monster's paws.

“It hasn’t been that long. You’ll be all right.”

“Um, who’re you talking to?”

Mapleshade jolted to her paws. She turned in a circle, eyes wide, trying to figure out where that voice had come from. It wasn’t one she recognized.

“Up here! In the back!”

Creeping forward, Mapleshade kept her eyes glued to the belly of the monster. As she neared its rear paws, she looked up. There, a kittypet sat, his chubby face gazing at her through a gap in the monster’s stomach. He slid down from his hiding place, stretching as soon as all four of his paws hit the ground. Mapleshade wrinkled her nose.

“Why are you here?” Mapleshade demanded.

“Huh?”

“Did you follow me here?” Her ears flattened to her skull. “Did you?”

The kittypet shrank back, alarmed. “Whoa, now! No need to be like that. I was here first. I was up there takin’ a nap when I heard you making all that racket. Who’re you talking to, anyhow?”

“None of your business,” Mapleshade growled.

“Huh. Okay, then.” The kittypet scratched his ear with a back leg. “My name’s Myler. Who’re you?”

“Don’t talk to me.”

“Do you have a nickname? That’s a bit long.”

Mapleshade snorted.

“All right. Not a fan of jokes, I see. Well… my name is Myler, as I said. You don’t have to tell me your name if you don’t want.”

“Good, because I wasn’t going to.”

“You know, you’re making it really hard to talk to you.”

Mapleshade unsheathed her claws. With one claw, she hooked his collar, yanking him forward. “Don’t mess with me, kittypet.” She let go. Myler scrambled back, eyes wide. The bell on his collar jingled, causing Mapleshade to let out an amused breath through her nose.

“You’re hopeless,” she muttered.

“Are you one of those Clan cats? From the… ThunderStar, or whatever they’re called?” Myler gulped.

“ThunderClan,” Mapleshade corrected, the bite creeping back into her voice at the thought of them. “And no, I’m not.”

The fur on Myler’s neck relaxed. “Oh, thank kibble. It’s just, I’ve heard a lot of not-so-good things about them, y’know? And then you threatened me, and no offense, but you look a little worse for wear, so I thought maybe you were one of them or something. The whole ‘talking to yourself’ thing didn’t help, either.”

Mapleshade narrowed her eyes.

“Not that I’ve heard those Clan cats talk to themselves or anything, but that just seems like something they’d do.” Myler shrank back. “I’m going to shut up now.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“So you’re a house cat?”

“I thought you said you were going to shut up!”

“Well, if you’re not a Clan cat, what else would you be? Unless you’re one of those city cats. But a lot of them were house cats, too. If you want a new home, my housefolk would take you in, probably. You’d have to be nice, though.”

Mapleshade’s lip curled. “Please. I’d rather die than be a kittypet.”

“That’s a bit extreme.”

“Oh, shut up, would you already? I don’t need your banal remarks. And what are you even doing under here anyway?”

“Same as you, hiding out from the cold.” Myler blinked.

“Well, go find another place. You’re bothering me.”

“But I was here first.”

“I don’t care! Just get lost!”

“You’re not very nice. My housefolk wouldn’t like you at all.”

“Good! Now go!”

“But it’s raining.”

An annoyed screech ripped from Mapleshade’s throat. Bursting out from beneath the monster, she stalked through the rain, ears back. Behind her, Myler poked his head out, calling out to her, “Wait, where are you going? You’ll get sick out there!”

“I’ll take my chances. Good riddance to you!”

Mapleshade crouched on top of a fence, trying to fluff her still-damp fur out. The sun was out, though the air was still chilly. She watched from a distance as a Twoleg monster pushed against the side of a Twoleg nest, causing the wall to collapse. Dust billowed into the air.

The fence underpaw began to shake. Mapleshade glanced over her shoulder, watching as Ramona clambered her way up the wood.

“I didn’t expect to see you here. Did you change your mind?” Ramona called. She strutted forward, delicately balanced atop the fence as she came to sit next to Mapleshade.

Oh, great, someone else to bother me.

“I’m just passing through.”

“Are you sure? You’re a long way from the forest.”

Mapleshade flicked an ear. “How’d you even know I was here?”

“I have eyes and ears everywhere.”

Mapleshade let out a humph. She looked back at the monster. The dust had settled now, giving her a clearer view of the scene in front of her. It scooped up a chunk of debris, carrying it over to a pile. Several Twolegs walked around, shouting and pointing.

“It’s awful, isn’t it?” Ramona sighed.

I don't care.

“Do they do this often?” Mapleshade asked.

“More and more recently. They say it’s for safety, but they don’t realize just what they’re doing. Twolegs never do.” Ramona’s words turned bitter at the end. She narrowed her eyes as the monster scooped up another pile of debris.

I don’t have time for this.

“I’m going on my way,” Mapleshade announced. She leaped off the fence. Ramona followed her.

“You’re leaving already?”

Mapleshade squinted at her. “I’ve already said I’m just passing through.”

Quit bothering me!

To her relief, Ramona stopped. She said nothing more, allowing Mapleshade to slip away into the Twoleg’s Place.